Details
ST23NE DURLEIGH CP WEST BOWER LANE (South side)
3/11 West Bower Manor with barn
(previously listed as West Bower
Farm House)
(also known as Durleigh Manor)
29.3.63
II*
Gatehouse; formerly part of a large manorial property on this site, now virtually all demolished; subsequently a
farmhouse, now house. Probably 2 periods C15; though core of fabric may even be earlier; altered C17 with additions;
much C19 rebuilding and internal rearrangement. Restored late C20. Local stone with freestone dressings, some render,
some remains of render; pantile, tile and slate roofs, brick stacks. Main block facing south, rectangular on plan; C17
wing at right-angles to East side, attached barn at rear. Decorated/Perpendicular style. Salient feature the shafted
4-centred archway with moulded head giving onto a former through-way, now blocked; to each inner face a moulded
4-centred arch doorway with a plank door, one studded; 3-centred arch door opening under centre of archway, plank door.
To each side a 2 storey polygonal stair-turret with a cinqpartite, slate roof, moulded strings and string between the
turrets; gargoyles; left turret with 2 foiled lancets on ground floor, right with a 2-light ovolo-moulded
wooden-mullioned window, on each face of the first floors a 2-light mullioned and transomed window with a 3-centred
head and label which continues between each window, each light with foiled head, blind head tracery with blank shields
and foliate decoration, iron saddle and stanchion bars, leaded lights; some C15 stained glass to right turret, similar
glass to left turret removed for conservation at time of re-survey (February 1985). Between the turrets 5 large
weathered stone corbels at eaves height; 2- light stone-mullioned window with label, each light with a foiled head,
carved spandrels. On ground floor of inner face of each turret, a moulded 4-centred arch door opening similar to those
under archway, plank doors, one studded. Set back to the outer side of each turret a single bay, 3-light casements on 2
floors with glazing bars, except to right of ground floor with leaded lights. At right-angles to right of frontage a
lower 2-storey C17 addition with a reused dressed stone doorway, chamfered with a 4-centred head, plank door; C20
oriel. To left return the base of a further turret with a doorway in wooden surround with a 4-centred head. Attached
garden walls, again possibly remains of other parts of the manor house. Attached to rear a 2-storeyed rubble barn,
hipped pantile roof, plank doors and 2-light casements. Interior with stone newel staircase in left turret, moulded
4-centred archway at its top; ground floor room in right wing with 2 reused carved beams. Panelled archway giving onto
first floor of right turrets. C17 panelled screen with turned baluster panels, dismantled for conservation at time of
re-survey. Further lesser features including C17 partitioning and doors. Reputed to be the birthplace of Jane Seymour,
3rd wife of Henry VIII and mother of Edward VI. Sir John Seymour was lord of the manor.
Listing NGR: ST2656136412
