| Print | More

FAIRFIELD HOUSE

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

Country house of possible 12th century origins, rebuilt in 1589 and enlarged in the late 18th century. Alterations took place in 1815. A restoration took place in the early 20th century. It is E-shaped on plan, of two-storeys with a three storey porch.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

[ST 18764298] FAIRFIELD HOUSE [GT]

Fairfield House, a large symmetrical house on the familiar E
plan, bearing the date 1589 on the porch (2).

In the late 15th c. William Vernai had a licence to build a
wall and seven round towers round his house at Honibere and to
enclose 200 acres of park. This house was pulled down in
Elizabeth's reign to make way for the present building. (3-4).
A chapel existed at Fairfield in a survey of 1562-75 but is
entirely destroyed and the site unknown. (4).

Extent of park delineated from Greenwood's map. (5)

The house is a particularly good example of its type. See GP's
AO/65/49/6 & 7. There is no trace of a park pale (6)

No change. (7)

II* Fairfield House C.16, (date on porch 1589) later
alterations including hipped modern pantile roof with dormers
and all-round dentilled stone cornice with blocking course.
Later wing (c. 1924) in conforming style added at N.E., angle.
Rendered walling. Principal elevation faces S.E. and is
2-storey, L-shaped with 3-storey central square porch. This has
quoins, crocketted stone pinnacles, ogee stone roof with
crocketted finial, flat-pointed head to door opening, modern
double doors, stone doorcase, with flat entablature on engaged
square columns. Windows are regularly disposed multi-light
leaded casements with moulded stone mullions, 2-storey angular
bay to end elevation of each wing. Two windows to the right of
the porch are particularly large; they each have 5 lights and 4
transoms and extend through the full height of the house.
Interior probably of interest. (8)

ST14SE STOGURSEY CP FAIRFIELD 6/135 Fairfield House 22.5.69 GV
II*

Manor House. Medieval in origin, rebuilt late C16, remains of
earlier dwelling demolished, finials removed from facade and
parapet added, service area enlarged late C18, alterations by
Richard Carver in 1815, restored and re-roofed early C20.
Roughcast over rubble, exposed quoins on porch, Bath stone
dressings, hipped pantiled roof, parapet with modillion moulded
cornice, rendered stacks. 'E'-plan, corridor and kitchen wing
added at rear with low flanking wings. 2 storeys with attic and
3 storey central porch, 1:2:1:2:1 bays; segmental headed
2-light dormers in wings with full height canted bays
containing 5-light mullioned and transomed windows on both
floors, two similar 4-light windows first floor and two 5-light
ground floor to left of porch, two full height 5 x 5 light
mullioned and transomed windows to right; pyramid roofed porch
with pinnacle and 4 flame decorated finials, 3-light casement
second floor, 3-light mullioned and transomed first floor, with
empty square panel below and ashlar surround with pilasters to
4-centred arch doorway with half glazed double doors, late C18
inner double doors with fanlight. Long 4 bay right return, now
entrance front. Interior: remains of late C15 decorated arch
braced roof with wind bracing and moulded purlins in attic of
left hand wing, 4-centred stone arch with ribbed moulding set
off centre in left cross passage wall, both evidence of earlier
dwelling. Late C18 plaster friezes in most rooms, coved ceiling
to hall. (VAG Report, unpublished SRO, January 1982; photograph
in NMR).

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1962

( 2) by Nikolaus Pevsner 1958 South and west Somerset

The Buildings of England Page(s)169

( 3) General reference

Greswell W H P. 1905. The Forests and Deerparks of Somerset, 243

( 4) General reference

Collinson J. 1791. History of Somerset 1, 254, 256

( 5) General reference

Greenwood's map of Somerset. 1820-1

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JP 21-APR-65

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F2 PAS 27-JAN-75

( 8) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

Rural District of Williton, March 1962 Page(s)93

( 9) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

District of West Somerset, November 1984 Page(s)70-71

( 10) English Heritage Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England

Somerset Part 37

RELATED MONUMENTS

+ / -

Monument Name/No

Resources

Description

MONUMENT NO. 620870
STOGURSEY

Monument Pictures
Monument Maps
Monument Investigation
Monument Sources
EH Visitor Information

Landscape park and gardens to Fairfield House. During the late 18th century or early 19th century the park had been landscaped and extended. Formal ga...

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Archives
EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
National Heritage List for England
English Heritage Archive
ViewFinder