Information for record number MWA2140:
Honington Hall

Summary A manor house, the site of which dates to the Medieval period. The present country house dates to the Post Medieval period, with 20th century alterations. It is located 400m north west of Honington.
What Is It?  
Type: Country House, Manor House, House
Period: Medieval - Modern (1066 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Honington
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 26 42
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: I)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Dugdale states that the original Honington estates existed in the days of Edward the Confessor, and the manor was one of those with which Earl Leofric had endowed his religious house at Coventry.
2 In 1737 the estate passed to the Townsend family, who made considerable alterations. These included the erection of a great octagonal salon and loggia: the basement of the last was retained but its colonnade was rebuilt in front of a garden house to the NW of the Hall. The main block was of simple plan, having a centre hall between side-wings which project slightly on the E front and contain the other two most important original rooms of the ground floor, the Drawing Room in the S wing and the Dining Room. The entrance to the grounds, on the N side of the village green, is of 1685.
3 The present house was built for a London merchant, Sir Henry Parker in 1668. The 18th century brickpiers have vermiculated stone dressings, moulded stone plinths and moulded stone cornices. They have entabletures with ball heads and in the friezes is applied ornament - carvings of heads between swags of drapery. The main gateway is flanked by small pedestrian gateways, the piers having stone capitals with ball heads.
4 The walls of the hall are of red brick with rusticated stone angle dressings and stone framed sash windows- the lower windos with bracketed drip stones. To the east it has a recessed 3 bay centre and slightly projecting 2 bay wings, 2 storeys and attics. The roofs are hipped and covered with slates. There are square headed dormers in the roof. The chimney stacks of brick are plain except the 18th century pair on the south wall which are paralleled. The broad doorway in the middle of the east front has side pilasters and a curved broken pediment with a coat of arms. In the east and soutn fronts, above the ground floor windows, are oval recesses containing a series of busts of Roman emperors. The Townsend family aquired Honington Hall sometime before 1731. A print by Buck dated 1730 refers to Honington as the seat of Joseph Townsend, and it is the Townsend arms which are found on the open segmental pediment above the front door. The new owner made considerable alterations and embelishments- including, in all probability, the busts of the emperors. To the left and right of the Hall are small arched and pedimented gateways into the garden. Beyond the one on the right is a brick quadrant wallwith pilasters, blank niches and a truglyph frieze. the opposite number on the left has disappeared. A richly carved door-way with an apsed hood gives access to the courtyard to the north of the house where there are two octagonal pigeoncote (WA 2141) and the rear of the early 17th century stables (WA 2142). To the north of the stables is a square building of the 16th/ early 17th century of red brick with stone dressings and a gable to each face. This is a granary known as The Bothy. The foundations of this building (Listing Grade II: No 12_144C) rest on stone staddle piers bricked in between. Another brick building of similar date is to be found 30 yards north of the Bothy. This is a regular 2 storey structure with stone angle dressings and 4 windows with moulded stone architraves and an old tiled roof with two moulded wood dormers. (Listing Grade II: No 12_144D). In 1885 a victorian wing was added to the house and restoration work was carried out during the 1970s. The west elevation shows an octagon constructed between the short projections on the west side of the house. The terrace was built during the 19th century, but the temple alongside has been in its position since the 1760s.
5 It was built for Sir Henry Parker - the Parkers were London merchants - in 1682. The date is on the rainwater head, and the E (entrance) side represents that date to perfection. The house is of brick with brown stone dressings. It has to the E a recessed three-bay centre and slightly projecting two-bay wings. Two storeys and a hipped roof.
6 Situated on rising ground above the Stour, adjacent to the church, with the main front facing E. On the N side of the front is a brick-built screen, there being two arched gateways, one on either end of the front, to allow access behind the screen. A notable feature of the house is the busts of Roman Emperors on the S and E faces.
7 Photo.
 
Sources
Source No: 5
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: 2
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: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Antiquities of Warwickshire
Author/originator: Dugdale W
Date: 1730
Page Number: 1056
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Guide to Country Houses
Author/originator: Burke, Saville
Date:
Page Number: 151
Volume/Sheet: 2
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1986
Page Number: 17
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Newspaper/Magazine Article
Title: Honington Hall
Author/originator:
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: September-October
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Honington Hall
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
Honington Hall, Honington
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 2000
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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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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
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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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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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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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument COUNTRY HOUSE * The rural residence of a country gentleman. back
monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument GARDEN HOUSE * A small ornamental building in a garden, usually one-storeyed and consisting of one room. Use a more specific term where known. back
monument COAT OF ARMS * Includes crests, hatchments and supporters. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument RELIGIOUS HOUSE * Use only for a monastic house of unknown status, religious order and uncertain authenticity. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument COLONNADE * A row of columns supporting an entablature. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument MANOR HOUSE * The principal house of a manor or village. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SEAT * An external structure used to sit on. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. back
monument PIER * A structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into the sea and used as a promenade and landing stage. back
monument VILLAGE GREEN * An area of common grassland in a village used for grazing cattle, recreational purposes, etc. back
monument CARVING * A carved figure or design. back
monument MANOR * An area of land consisting of the lord's demesne and of lands from whose holders he may exact certain fees, etc. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument BOTHY * Small building in which labourers, such as miners and tin workers. They are also associated with gardens where they provide on-site accommodation for gardeners and estate workers. back
monument GATEWAY * A substantial structure supporting or surrounding a gate. May be ornate or monumental, and have associated structures such as lodges, tollbooths, guard houses etc. back
monument BUST * A piece of sculpture usually representing the head, shoulders and breast of a person. back
monument SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. back
monument LOGGIA * A covered arcade, often attached to a building, open on one or more sides. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument STABLE * A building in which horses are accommodated. back
monument BASEMENT * Component. Use wider site type where known. back
monument RAINWATER HEAD * The receptacle at the top of a rain-water pipe which gathers the water from one or more outlets or gutters on the roof. back
monument GRANARY * A building, or first-floor room in a building, for the dry and secure storage of grain after it has been threshed and winnowed. back
monument CHIMNEY * Chimney used on an industrial or commercial site. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TEMPLE * Use for places of worship. For later landscape features use, eg. GARDEN TEMPLE. back
monument TERRACE * A row of houses attached to and adjoining one another and planned and built as one unit. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record