Listed Building record MDR11349 - Manor Farm Farmhouse, Annwell Lane, Smisby

Manor Farm farmhouse, Annwell Lane, Smisby, orginally a 16th century building. 'The manor of Smithsby [sic], at the Domesday Survey, pertained to Nigel de Stafford. By c1480 it had come to the Kendall family of Twycross, in whose hands it remained until it was sold in 1660 to the ancestors of Sir John Crewe. Smithsby Hall, for so many generations the seat of the Kendalls, adjoins the churchyard on the west side. It has now been long used as a farm-house.' (1) 'Smisby Manor House. The remnant of what was alleged to be a massive early 14th century house, a corner of which was rebuilt from the ground up in the later 16th century. The centre is tall, three storeys and attics, with two smallish gables. The east side is set back and plainer, and to the west a longer, lower range of four bays and two storeys, the upper windows having he eaves cambered over them, indicating a previous thatched phase. In the last years of the 18th century, Stebbing Shaw noted that some of the walls of the original edifice were still remaining and that it had once been 'strongly fortified', although no licence to crenellate survives. Henry Kendall paid tax on 12 hearths in 1662 and sold it in 1665 to the Harpurs who turned it into a tenanted farmhouse, which role it has fulfilled, with occasional exceptions, since. It was sold in 1978 with 158 acres.' (2) From the National Heritage List for England: 'This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 24/03/2015 SK 31 NW 6/66 PARISH OF SMISBY ANNWELL LANE (North Side) Smisby Manor (Formerly listed as Manor Farmhouse, previously listed as Old Manor House) 2-9-52 II Farmhouse. C16, C17, altered C19 and C20. Coursed squared sandstone and red brick. Plain tile roofs. Two brick ridge stacks and one between gables. Chamfered plinth. Two and three storeys. South elevation of seven irregular bays. Tall twin-gabled centre part has two glazing bar sashes to the ground floor, two wooden cross windows above, two 2-light casements above again and blocked single lights in the gables. All windows set in remains of recessed and chamfered surrounds. To the right, set back, is an extruded bay with small single light window. To the right is another similar window and French doors with gothic glazing. Long range set back to the left with central ridge stack. C19 open porch in the angle with four-centred arches on two sides. Part-glazed door. To the left are two 3-light C20 casements. To the left again a C20 2-light casement at half height. First floor has two 2-light and a C20 3-light casement, set under shallow eyebrow dormers. Twin gabled east elevation has wooden cross windows to ground floor, 2-light casements to first floor and two blocked single lights to the gables. All with chamfered surrounds. Interior not inspected but said to have been extensively modernised, retaining some exposed beams and on the top floor a four-centred arched chimneypiece with moulded surround and C18 hobgrate. Listing NGR: SK3473419092.' (3)