Listed Building record MDO17901 - Barnston Manor, Church Knowle

A manor house built in the 13th century with 16th-century alterations, including refacing. The building has walls of stone rubble with an ashlar front, and roofs of stone slates. Surviving features of the interior include 156th-century beams, stone fireplaces and spiral stair.

Barnston farm, anciently a manor, derives its name from Bern, who held it in the time of Edward the Confessor. The present house, probably built by the Estoke family, is late 13th century, and the solar block and west wing are of this date. The house originally formed the north boundary of a large courtyard with a gatehouse in the south-east corner, the remains of which were demolished in the 19th century.

Extensive alterations were made to the house in the 16th century, including the addition of a new ceilinged hall. Since then it has undergone only essential reconstruction and repair. <1> <3-4>

The house, as described, is now a private dwelling known as Barneston Manor. The stone outbuildings are also part of the property but the adjacent modern farmbuildings are owned by a local farmer. Published 1:2500 survey correct. <5>

Bellamy, P, 2023, Barnston Manor, Church Knowle, Dorset: Observations and Recording (Unpublished document). SDO21074.

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, 579-581 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 93088153) Barnston Farm on remains of (NAT) Manor House (NR)

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 43-45 (Monograph). SDO148.

<4> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1977, Archaeological Journal 134, 297-302 (Serial). SDO16419.

<5> Fletcher, Martin, Field investigator's comments MJF, F1 MJF 23-APR-86 (Unpublished document). SDO17630.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA53/07498 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a bay window on the south elevation of Barnston Manor in Church Knowle

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24523 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a bay window on the south elevation of Barnston Manor in Church Knowle. This print was received by the National Buildings Record in February 1941.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456912 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 8 2024 12:01PM