ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL NOTES

Appleton Manor is said to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited private houses in the country. Sir Nikolaus Pevsner's authoritative work ‘The Buildings of England” says: -

“An amazing survival. Part of a manor house of 1190 or 1200 with a doorway worthy of any major church. Three orders of colonnettes. Big upright stiff-leaf capitals.

“Round arches with deep mouldings. Through the doorway one enters the hall, and two quite large round-arched doorways to the service rooms have also survived. They have one slight chamfer and rolls as hood-moulds. A small head between the two. The hall outer wails are evident, by one nook-shafted corner. The fireplace is a Tudor insertion, though lengths of roll moulding have been re-used. In front of the main doorway a Tudor porch with timber-framed upper floor."

Additions were made during the 15th, 17th, 18th and 20th centuries and all were carried out with fine workmanship and discernment.

A complete record of the inhabitants of Appleton Manor has been compiled, starting with the de Appletons at the beginning of the 13th century to the present day. An owner of particular note was Sir John Fettiplace who sold the property to speaker Lenthall in 1634.