Information for record number MWA559:
Coughton Court

Summary Coughton Court, a manor house dating from the Medieval to the Post Medieval period. The manor house was once surrounded by a moat. It is now owned by the National Trust and is situated in Coughton.
What Is It?  
Type: Manor House, House
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Coughton
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 08 60
(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 Partly timber framed and partly of stone and brick. It is ranged around three sides of a courtyard. The eastern range was destroyed when the house was pillaged by a protestant mob from Alcester in 1688, and its ruined remains were cleared away in 1780. The timber framed north and south wings are probably early 16th century, built by Sir Robert Throckmorton. The stone gatehouse to the west is recorded by Dugdale as being built by his son, Sir George. This probably refers to the present upper part; the lower part, of a different design and materials, probably dates to the late 14th century. The house was originally surrounded by a moat, which was drained and filled in during 1795. There was apparently no berm between the moat and the walls, and tradition speaks of fishing from the upstairs windows. North east of the house and originally separated from it is a detached building of T-shaped plan, dating apparently from the early 16th century, probably built for lodgings rather than for offices or stages. The walls are of ashlar cotswold stone with a moulded plinth of red stone and are repaired with brick under the eaves. The roofs are tiled. Over the entrance of the south end-wall of the south wing is a doorway which is said to have communicated by a bridge over the moat with the vanished east range of the house.
2 At Coughton Court are kept two carved alabaster slabs. One shows the nativity, the other showing the head of St John the Baptist with St Peter on one side and St Thomas of Canterbury on the other. Scratched on the rear are various 17th century dates and names of owners. The making of these slabs was an important industry in Nottingham in the 15th century, and many were hidden during the Reformation. The building is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public. The contents still belong to the Throckmorton family.
3 The oldest part is the gatehouse; the upper stonework is post 1518 but the lower stonework may be earlier. The house was originally a moated courtyard house, but in 1688 the east range (containing the hall) was destroyed. The west range was remodelled in 1780, and extensions were made in 1835.
4 Plan of the house.
5 During salvage recording in 1990-1 evidence for 12th-13th century primary occupation of the manor house was found. Evidence was also found of possible renewed activity in the 15th century. Evidence for the 16th century building plan was discovered.
6 Archaeological observation was carried out in 1994 during tree planting and fence erection around the trees. Such a small area was exposed that it is difficult to draw any conclusions, although a pebbley clay loam with regular clay flecks was observed beneath the topsoil.
7 The area observed in 1994 was once occupied by stable yards and lay adjacent to the former moat. Large sandstone blocks were revealed in one of the tree pits, but no archaeological features or finds were identified.
8 Shortly after the east wing had been removed c1780, the west front was remodelled, and a chapel built in the south wing. This work may have formed part of an overall scheme for Coughton by the landscape gardener, John Davenport. At this point, the house had reached more or less its modern form, though there have been 19th and 20th century internal alterations.
9 Photographs of the East Front and North Wing and of the Dining Room.
10 Excavation report from 1991.
11 Maps from the National Trust.
 
Sources
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
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: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Report & Recommendations
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Excavations at Coughton Court, Warwickshire 1991
Author/originator: Evans J
Date: 2001
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0111
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Map
Title: Coughton Court
Author/originator: The National Trust
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Coughton, Coughton Court
Author/originator: Palmer, S C & Hicks, D
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 34 (1991)
Author/originator: Darlington, J (ed)
Date: 1992
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 34
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Site Visit
Title: Coughton Court
Author/originator: Hicks D
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: TBAS vol 48
Author/originator: Chatwin P B
Date: 1922
Page Number: 175
Volume/Sheet: 48
   
Images:  
Coughton Court
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1999
Click here for larger image  
 
Coughton Court
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1999
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.
 		back
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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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 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 YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE * Use only for features assumed to be archaeological but which cannot be identified more precisely without further investigation .Use more specific term where known 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 LODGINGS * Accommodation in hired rooms or a lodging house. 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 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
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. 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 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 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 BERM * A horizontal surface separating the base of a rampart or earthwork from an associated ditch or moat. Can also refer to a continuously sloping bank of earth against a wall, as in a fortified city wall. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument STABLE * A building in which horses are accommodated. back
monument OFFICE * A building or room where business, administrative or professional activities are conducted. Use specific type where known. back
monument FENCE * A construction of wood or metal used to enclose an area of land, a building, etc. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record