Reference
Z449/1/14
Title
Sale catalogue for Harlington Manor
Date free text
Feb 1995
Production date
From: 1660 To: 1995
Scope and Content
Sale catalogue for Harlington Manor.
- agents: Strutt & Parker of Crispin House, 37 Holywell Hill, St.Albans [Hertfordshire];
- description: "Harlington Manor was formerly known as Harlington House, and has a long and colourful history attached to it. The house belonged to the Wingate family from the end of the 14th century until the 19th century, including Francis Wingate whom, it is believed, once had the honour of receiving King Charles II who is thought to have slept in what is now known as "The King's Room". A less honoured guest, as far as the owner was concerned, was John Bunyan who appeared before Francis Wingate (in his capacity as magistrate) in "The Great Parlour" during November of 1660. The result of this meeting was that Bunyan was sentenced to 12 years in Bedford gaol, where he wrote "Pilgrim's Progress" amongst other books. Other well-known occupants of the house included Edmund Wingate, the pre-eminent 17th century mathematician who was tutor to Queen Henrietta Maria. the manor is included in several books, including Joyce Godber's "John Bunyan of Bedfordshire" and the Readers Digest "Treasures of Britain". Harlington Manor is listed as being of historical and architectural importance, Grade II* and , although the existing house principly dates from the 16th century, there is record of an earlier house being on the site. The existing structure was reworked and extended in the 17th and 19th centuries, with a 1937 addition to the northern elevation which was designed by Sir Albert Richardson. The property now presents colour-washed rendered elevations, relieved by mullioned and transformed windows with leaded lights, beneath gabled clay tiled roofs. Many of the original architectural features remain including some fine early 17th century oak panelling to the principal reception rooms, which includes some reeded Ionic pilasters, dentil cornice and ornate panels over a moulded stone fireplace in The Great Parlour. the manor has been lovingly restored and in parts modernised by the present owners";
- layout: ground floor: reception hall (19 feet 10 inches by 13 feet 3 inches); staircase/hall; The Great Parlour (22 feet 9 inches by 18 feet 9 inches); dining room (19 feet by 15 feet 3 inches); study (16 feet 9 inches by 12 feet 9 inches); drawing room (23 feet by 16 feet 9 inches); The Justice's Room (14 feet 9 inches by 13 feet 3 inches); secondary kitchen (13 feet by 10 feet); breakfast room (13 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 6 inches); side hall; kitchen (17 feet 9 inches by 16 feet 9 inches); rear hall/laundry (16 feet by 7 feet 9 inches);
- layout: first floor: King's Room Bedroom ((16 feet 9 inches square); en-suite bathroom; west landing; inner landing; West Room (20 feet by 14 feet 9 inches)' East Room (19ft by 16 feet 3 inches) with en-suite dressing room and bathroom; Wainscot Room (15 feet 6 inches by 13 feet); Stuart Room (15 feet 3 inches by 14 feet); Children's Nursery (17 feet 7 inches by 14 feet 5 inches); southern landing; two bathrooms; two further bedrooms;
- layout: second floor: Bunyan's Room (15 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 9 inches); attic room (34 feet by 7 feet);
- layout: cellars beneath breakfast room;
- outside: "Harlington manor is approached through large wrought iron gates, set in a high brick wall, that opens to a gravelled courtyard, with a central red maple, that is flanked on two sides by two Period Barns. The smaller of the two barns stands to the west of the courtyard, and is of timber framed construction with weather boarded elevations, beneath a pitched tiled roof. This building measures approximately 42 feet by 10 feet 9 inches, with a midstrey of about 12 feet by 10 feet 3 inches that has double wooden doors opening to a garage, the remainder of the building being divided into a Workshop and Store. the other Barn that stands to the south, is of brick and tiled construction and is predominantly two storeys measuring some 46 feet by 18 feet (external), with a single storey Tack Room to one end. This barn provides Garaging, 2 Loose Boxes (with two Stalls in-between), having a Hay Loft over. A flagstone pathway leads to another wrought iron gate that opens into the formal gardens that lie between the courtyard and the house. the flagstone path that is flanked by standard roses, mallow and well cut lawns, leads to a flagstone terrace, with borders of lavender, to the front of the house which has climbing roses and wisteria. The formal gardens are surrounded by high mellow brick walls and contain a number of mature specimen trees, including yew, ash, oak, acacia and flowering cherry. The mellowed brick walls of the barn and other outbuildings stand along the western boundary of the formal gardens, to the front of which are superb herbaceous borders that contain a number of flowering shrubs and plants including iris, foxglove, climbing roses and clematis. The lawns to the east of the house contain a small ornamental pond, whilst a gate within a high brick wall to the south of the front door, opens to a cobbled yard that gives access to the Rear Hall/Laundry, another Workshop and fuel store. Beyond this is a partly walled Herb Garden with a brick and tiled Outbuilding to one end. Further Outbuildings include a brick and pantiled building that stands in the north-east corner of the property that is currently divided into six storage sheds that are reached through five sets of doors from the initial stretch of driveway";
- photographs [colour]: exterior seen through wrought iron gates; fireplace with wooden chair; exterior seen from grounds; kitchen; grounds; dining room showing overmantle with royal arms dating to 1881; The Great Parlour; drawing room;
- no plans;
- £595,000
- for earlier sale see Z449/1/2
Level of description
item