Madresfield Court

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are masonry footings remains

NameMadresfield Court
Alternative Names
Historic CountryWorcestershire
Modern AuthorityWorcestershire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishMadresfield

Country house. C16, on earlier moated site with later additions. Extensively restored, rebuilt and extended 1866-88 by P C Hardwick. Brick with stone dressings and tile roof. Entrance front is approached by C16 or C17 brick bridge. (Listed Building Report)

A mid 15th century moated manor house rebuilt in 1593 and extensively restored between 1863 and 1888. The moat is intact and waterfilled. Brick with stone dressings and tile roof. Entrance front is approached by 16th centurt or 17th century brick bridge. Four gabled bays were raised by one storey to four storeys in 1885. The two central bays project. (PastScape)

Madresfield Court stands at the foot of the Malvern Hills in a spectacular setting among park- land and gardens at the centre of a large, predominantly agricultural, estate of approximately 4,000 acres. The house is completely surrounded by a wide moat. Amongst other types of fish, this contains carp who show themselves on sunny days. Occasionally the blue flash of a passing kingfisher is seen.

The earliest known construction on this site was a great hall built in the twelfth century within the moat for safety, and designed for the feudal and communal life of the Middle Ages. In the Tudor period a manor house grew up round the hall, which remained as a dining hall in the middle. The new Tudor house had more rooms for different purposes, including a Long Gallery typical of the times, which suited an increasingly private domestic life. (John de la Court)

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO808474
Latitude52.1254081726074
Longitude-2.28079009056091
Eastings380870
Northings247490
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Michael Marrison All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Michael Marrison All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Michael Marrison All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Michael Marrison All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Michael Marrison All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Brooks, A., and Pevsner, N., 2007, The Buildings of England: Worcestershire (Yale University Press) p. 439-5
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 343
  • Pevsner, N., 1968, Buildings of England: Worcestershire (Harmondsworth, Penguin Books) p. 218
  • Page, Wm and Willis-Bund, J.W. (eds), 1924, VCH Worcestershire Vol. 4 p. 118-9 online transcription
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 1 p. 385 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 252-3 online copy
  • Nash, T., 1781-99, Collections for a History of Worcestershire (London: T Payne and son) Vol. 1 p. 116-120; Vol. 2 p. 56-7

Journals

  • 1980 Oct 16, 23 and 30, Country Life
  • Beauchamp the Earl, 1881, 'Madresfield Court' Architectural Societies Reports Vol. 16.1 p. 104-10 online copy

Guide Books