Listed Building record MDO10580 - Meerhay Manor, Beaminster

Sixteenth century Manor farmhouse, rebuilt circa 1610. North west wing added later in the seventeenth century. Rubble stone and ashlar walls, thatch roof with stone gable-copings. 3 brick stacks to south east elevation, at left hand gable, right of centre, right hand gable. 2 and 1 1/2 storeys (at right hand).

Meerhay Farm <3> or Meerhay Manor <2> is a two-storeyed house with attics, built of ashlar and rubble with a thatched roof. It belonged to the Hillary family, and was rebuilt about 1610 - a room on the NE retains several early 17th century panes of painted glass, including one bearing the initials HH and the date 1610. The NW wing was added later in the 17th century, making the plan T-shaped. The house retains a number of stone-mullioned windows with labels; there is an original doorway on the NW with moulded jambs and a square head, and a doorway on the SE has moulded jambs and a four-centred arch in a square head. Internally the doorways to the former screens passage remain, with four-centred heads, and in the parlour, formerly the hall, is a stone fireplace with cambered head, and on one side a stone newel stair. According to Hutchins some of the old painted glass was used to glaze Mapperton church. Now known as Meerhay Manor; a well-preserved stone built house with thatched roof, no longer used as a farmhouse. The majority of windows are of 17th century type with mullions and dripstones. Only one main period of building could be traced and the house has an overall appearance of mellowed age undisturbed by modernisation. <4> Meerhay Manor, C16th rebuilt circa 1610. <5>

Record last edited

Nov 14 2022 2:28PM