Moyns Park (EHER 1610)

Mansion, late 16th century, built for Thomas Gent, incorporating part of a moated courtyard house of around 1500, altered in 18th to 20th centuries. Mainly of red brick in English bond with limestone dressings, partly timber framed with brick nogging and plaster, roofed with handmade red clay tiles and lead. Half-H plan, aspect north-west, with wings extending to south-east. The main range of two storeys, cellar and attics has four external chimney stacks to the rear, of which three are original. The two rear wings of two storeys each have an end chimney stack.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The house is two-storied, cellared. The walls are part red brick, part plastered timber frame. Half H-plan, the wings extend towards the south east. South-west wing is early 16th century, timber-framed, rest of house is brick, built by Thomas Gent, probably around 1580. In the 19th century low additions were made at the back of the main block and both wings were extended. It has original windows, doors, rain water heads, with four-centred heads, possibly original, partly or wholly blocked. On the south-west elevation of the north-east wing the upper storey is plastered timber-frame, underbuilt with 18th century brick. The hall has exposed ceiling beams, two of the doorways have moulded oak frames, the walls have late 16th century panelling, with a carved frieze, apparently not in situ. The drawing room has 18th century painted panelling. The library has walls part-covered with late 16th century panelling, the staircase has a late 16th century carved ball- newel at the foot. A store room in the north-east wing has chamfered ceiling beams and a massive wall post with a moulded head. The basement under the library has a chamfered ceiling beam, one wall has moulded brick corbelling to support the fireplace above it. Addition at the end of the north-east wing has an old open timber roof. Plan and photos in this source. Site Assessment = "The front is a handsome example of late 16th-century work". <1> Moyns' Park is a fine Elizabethan moated mansion (built by Sir Thomas Gent in about 1580), with an early 16th century timber framed south west wing. It was altered internally in the 18th century and had additions in the 19th century. The moat is fairly complete, and is double on the south-east and north-east sides. <2> <3> Around 1575-1580 Thomas Gent "must have begun rebuilding the old house". He finished the north west facade but died in 1593. This facade "represents an unusual type". Tall chimneystacks dominate the appearance from a distance, that on the left is a more recent replacement. <2> "A good example of a possible later moat, created in the 16th century as a landscape feature, although it is probable that the inner moat was earlier". <3> Sketch plan of the earthworks in <3> and on back of moated site survey sheet in SMR. <4> Also a sketch on the back of the MSRG card. <5> Mansion of the late 16th century, altered in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Mainly red brick in English bond with limestone dressings. The north east wing is of uncertain date, is probably earlier than the main range. Ornamental features of c1580 on the south-west wing, north east front. 17th century wrought iron casements. North east wing jetty has been underbuilt with 18th century brick in Flemish bond. Interior features include a late 16th century stone hearth surround. Morant suggests that Thomas Gent "added the stately front to the old building at Moynes". <6> - <10> It is suggested that this was an original 12 to 13th century manorial moat which was subsequently enlarged and landscaped in the 15 to 16th century. <11> 1998. Building study. Tudor and Stuart Development: c.1537-40 Construction of the first phase of the SW range as an extension to the medieval house on the site of the present NW range. Crown post dendro dates to 1522-58. Constructed by William Gent II. c.1552 Addition of gabled Crosswing to SW range dendrodated to 1552. Also by Willaim Gent II c.1575-85 Extension and reconstruction of SW range wrapping around the original build of c.1540. The latter was extensively reworked, a cellar added, stack rebuilt and ornate gables added to courtyard. The framing and bargeboard s have early renaissance decoration. The courtyard block of the NE range has very similar carpentry and is probably contemporary with this work. The re-used truss in the SW wingroof dates by dendro to 1574. The garden gallery is likely to have started in 1579/80 and the cellar 1581. The north-east range is dated by dendro to 1573 with a potential range to 1593. A date in the 1580s fits well with Thomas Gents Blossoming career. During this period the much landscaping work was carried out on the Park. c.1591-3 Construction of the majority of the principal NW range in a mature Elizabethan style. Clearly a courtier than a gentry building. Dendro of the roof timbers of the NW range provide a date of felling as the winter of 1591 and 1592. On the death of Thomas Gent in 1593 the west end was not yet finished. c.1601-25 Completion of NW range, making good of the SW range and addition of block to NE range. He completion of the north-west rage is dated 1606 by dendro of 2nd floor girding beam. This work must be the that of Thomas's son Henry Gent. In 1664 the park was still enclosed within a Pale. Georgian Modernisation: c.1713-20 Raised and fielded panelling added to a selection of rooms in the NW range, the NE gable windows were remodelled and the main stair constructed or reconstructed. All the work of George Gent IV 1818-30George Willaim Gent initiated the remodelling of the NE end of the NW range at ground floor which were service rooms into a dining room and library. Considerable alterations and extensions were made to the service accommodation. in the NE range Victorian and Edwardian Improvements: 1880-5 By 1896 there was a conservatory across the back of the NW range. The SE end of the NE range was rebuilt to meet the brewhouse. By 1903 dormers were inserted into the 2nd floor of NW block. The SW range was repaired and SW front reconstructed. All works by Major General Ives. 1910 By 1913 the main stair incorporating old newels was in place, the conservatory reroofed and the SW stair turret serving the NW wing built. All work then described by RCHME following visit in 1913 as modern. MODERN 1931-2 Jack Walker internal changes in NW range and addition of central heating. Conversion of S end of SW range to billiard room. 1940 Only traces of use as a military hospital are two WC I corridors to rear of NW range. 1956-8 Extension of stable accommodation to serve as a stud farm by Ivor Bryce. The service court was remodelled by Micheal Tapper and Lewis of London who were probably responsible for the extension of the SE end of the SW wing. 1985-90 minor adaptations of the NE wing by owner Ivar Mountbatten for his family. The main house was used for corporate hospitality. <12> 1999. Dendrochronology. Dendrochronological analysis indicates that the construction sequence is highly compressed, with a series of small and not so small aggrandisement schemes throughout the mid and later 16th century. <13> See also: <14> - <18>