Great Chalfield Manor
Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House
There are masonry footings remains
| Name | Great Chalfield Manor |
| Alternative Names | |
| Historic Country | Wiltshire |
| Modern Authority | Wiltshire |
| 1974 Authority | Wiltshire |
| Civil Parish | Atworth |
Great Chalfield Manor House was built by Thomas Tropenell in c. 1480, on the site of a ruined fortified house. Of the earlier building all that remains are the bases of the east and north curtain walls, the lower part of a circular tower at the north-east angle, and traces of a half round tower to the west near the bridge. Within the curtain at the north-east corner is the parish church of Great Chalfield. Tropenell's house was considerably altered about 1550; among the alterations was probably that of the long west wing for use as stables and servants' quarters. By 1837 a quadrangle of domestic offices had disappeared and other parts were in ruins, and in 1840 the building was adapted as a farmhouse. Between 1905 and 1912 the house was thoroughly restored under the supervision of (Sir) Harold Brakspear. The work included the rebuilding of the solar, the reconstruction of a 16th-century stone chimney-piece from original fragments recovered from a rockery, and the insertion of a staircase in the east wing. The principal front and entrance are on the north and are approached by a bridge over a moat and by a gateway at the northern end of the west wing. The front remains much as it originally was, with the hall in the centre, two projecting gabled wings with oriel windows, and, on the inner side of each, lesser gables, the western forming the porch. The south front, which originally had a southward extension, has been partly reconstructed to the original pattern, including a timber-framed portion on the west. On the apexes of the gables are carved the figures of armed knights. Inside the house are many 15th- and 16th-century features, including the original main timbers of the hall bearing the Tropenell motto, stone groined ceilings with the Tropenell arms, and panelling, chimney-pieces and decorated plaster-work dating from the mid-16th century. (In 1837 plans were made by Sir Harry Burrard Neale for the restoration of Chalfield manor. T. L. Walker, a pupil of A
C. Pugin, made elaborate drawings and descriptions of the house which were later used by Sir Harold Brakspear in his restoration work. For these and other details see R. F. Fuller, Guide to Great Chalfield Manor, published by the National Trust.) (VCH 1953)
Not scheduled
This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law
Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | ST860631 |
| Latitude | 51.3675994873047 |
| Longitude | -2.20233011245728 |
| Eastings | 386020 |
| Northings | 163180 |
