Information for record number 5225

   
Summary Compton Wynyates House, a Post Medieval moated manor house. The House was largely restored during the Imperial period. It is situated 1km south of Windmill Hill.
   
What Is It?  
Type: Manor House, House
Period: Post-medieval (1500 AD - 1750 AD)
   
Where Is It?  
Parish: Compton Wynyates
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 33 41
   
Level of Protection National - Listed Building (Grade: I)
Sites & Monuments Record
   
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Compton House was erected by Sir William Compton c1520, allegedly on the site of an earlier Tudor building, but this is not evident in the fabric or the buildings. In the 19th century the House was neglected and practically deserted, but in 1867 it was reconditioned and resumed its role as the seat of the Marquesses of Northampton.
2 The House is in excellent condition.
3 Early 16th century House, the most perfect example of the picturesque, irregular Early Tudor style in England. Courtyard house, originally moated. Brick built, two half timbered gables. The east front of the House was remodelled in the early 18th century and again in 1867. Windows of dates varying from c1500 to 19th century. One of the bay windows and the hall roof are said to have come from Fulbroke Castle. Inside, the hall still has its screens passage, and other Elizabethan features remain.
4 Listed Building description.
5 The House was begun in the early 16th century, near the site of a depopulated Medieval village, for Sir William Compton, one of Henry VIII's officials. The form is quadrangular; the House is entered through a gatehouse on the west side. There were originally two moats - an outer, dry moat, enclosing the House and a service court; and an inner, water filled, moat enclosing the House itself. Traces of both survive. Repairs and alterations to the House were made in the early 18th century. In 1768 the 8th Earl ordered the House to be demolished, due to financial problems, but the order was not carried out. The House was effectively abandoned until the 1850s; it was restored 1859-60.
7 Possible site of Civil War seige.
8,
9 Main home of the Earl of Northampton, who along with his five sons played an active role in the Civil war. Royalist garrison and important outlier of the Royalist garrison at Banbury Castle. The House was moated and had a drawbridge and had definitely had earthwork defences added to it. On Friday the 7th of June a force of Parliamentarian troops arrived to besiege the House. Banbury Castle was unable to help as many Royalist forces were with the Kings army being pursued by the Parliamentarian forces under Sir William Waller in the run up to the Battle of Cropredy Bridge (29th June), a Royalist victory. After 2 days of being bombarded the garrison surrendered (p.164). It then became a Parliamentarian garrison. This was attacked by a large Royalist force on the 30th of January 1645. The attack was beaten off after a long fight. An account of the fight mentions a new sconce (fortified outwork) in front of the stone Bridge, ‘out-works’ and talks about the fighting in and around the brewhouse and stables. It can be assumed that the House had become a proper small fortress. The House remained a Parliamentarian garrison until the end of the war and survived (pp.205-206).
 
Sources

Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 5, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1965
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 5
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 25NE6
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Buildings of England: Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pevsner N and Wedgwood A
Date: 1966
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Warwicks
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1986
Page Number: 17
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Report & Recommendations
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Metal Detecting Survey: Compton Wynyates Estate
Author/originator: Connaughton, Troy
Date: 1994-1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 2, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Page W (ed)
Date: 1908
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 2
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Edgehill and Beyond, The People's War in the South Midlands
Author/originator: P Tennant
Date: 1992
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Information on Civil War Sites
Author/originator: B Gethin
Date: 2009
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
A view of Compton Wynyates House from the air
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1993
Click here for larger image  
 
Compton Wynyates House
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 2002
Click here for larger image  
 
A view of Compton Wynyates House with a topiary garden in the foreground
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1900s
Click here for larger image  
 
A view of Compton Wynyates House
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1930s
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
monument BREWHOUSE * An outbuilding containing brewing equipment, as opposed to a large commercial BREWERY. Often found in conjunction with public houses, country houses etc. back
monument BRIDGE * A bridge which has been prepared for demolition by the insertion of explosive charges. The bridge would be destroyed in the event of an invasion to impede the advance of hostile forces. back
monument BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument COURTYARD HOUSE * A building or buildings ranged around a courtyard on at least three sides. They occur in the Iron Age, as well as being an influential plan type of house from the 15th century onwards. Index with appropriate period. back
monument DRAWBRIDGE * A movable bridge lifted at one end by chains or ropes either to stop traffic passing over it or to let traffic pass under it. back
monument EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back
technique Earthwork Earthworks can take the form of banks, ditches and mounds. They are usually created for a specific purpose. A bank, for example, might be the remains of a boundary between two or more fields. Some earthworks may be all that remains of a collapsed building, for example, the grassed-over remains of building foundations.

In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky than during the other seasons, earthworks have larger shadows. From the air, archaeologists are able to see the patterns of the earthworks more easily. Earthworks can sometimes be confusing when viewed at ground level, but from above, the general plan is much clearer.

Archaeologists often carry out an aerial survey or an earthwork survey to help them understand the lumps and bumps they can see on the ground.
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monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument FORTRESS * A major fortified place, often a town, capable of containing a large force. If Roman use LEGIONARY FORTRESS. back
monument GATEHOUSE * A gateway with one or more chambers over the entrance arch; the flanking towers housing stairs and additional rooms. Use with wider site type where known. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
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monument MANOR HOUSE * The principal house of a manor or village. back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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monument MOAT * A wide ditch surrounding a building, usually filled with water. Use for moated sites, not defensive moats. Use with relevant site type where known, eg. MANOR HOUSE, GARDEN, etc. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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monument SCONCE * A small protective fortification, such as an earthwork. back
monument SEAT * An external structure used to sit on. back
monument STABLE * A building in which horses are accommodated. back
monument VILLAGE * A collection of dwelling-houses and other buildings, usually larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a simpler organisation and administration than the latter. back
monument WINDMILL * A tower-like structure of wood or brick with a wooden cap and sails which are driven around by the wind producing power to work the internal machinery. Use with product type where known. back
monument WORKS * Usually a complex of buildings for the processing of raw materials. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record