Listed Building record MDO10699 - Benville Manor House, Corscombe

An manor house which is largely of early 17th century date, but is possibly earlier in origin. The two storeyed house is of H - plan construction with alterations dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. It is built from rubblestone with a plain tile roof. Attached to the south elevation are walls and gate-piers pf 18th century date.

There seems to be no early account of the hamlet of Benville except that it "anciently belonged to the Kymers of W, Chelborough.." The Kymers of W. Chelborough were connected with Benville in 1439. After them came the Breretons, Arundells and Hannes families. The Breretons were here in 1620. These last three families were catholics, and had a small oratory in the house, perhaps in a wing of the original manor which has been destroyed. <1> The Kymers of W. Chelborough were connected with Benville in 1439. After them came the Breretons, Arundells and Hannes families. The Breretons were here in 1620. These last three families were catholics, and had a small oratory in the house, perhaps in a wing of the original manor which has been destroyed. <3> Benville Manor House: Built early in the 17thc on an H-plan. The house is two-storeyed, with rubble, ashlar and brick walls, and a tiled roof. The N. cross wing has been much modernised and the main block has been refaced in 18thc. brick. The Moat: This is rectangular but has been partly filled in. <4> Now known as Benville Manor it was formerly known as Benfield Park. It was never a manor house. It was sold in 1620 and therefore may be older than the 17thc though it has been considerably altered by the bay windows in the south wall and by the rebuilding of the Northern wing about 1880 (a). Description T2 is correct. The house is well preserved with obvious modern additions. The bay windows referred to in T3 are mullioned. The roof is modern. The Moat is rather weak and averages 0.6m from the top of the outer bank in the North to the sludge-filled bottom. Gardening has pushed the southern boundary of the southern arm northwards for a few metres but the ditch entirely surrounds the flat and tree covered interior. Within the enclosure are loose fragments of building material which may or may not have been imported. This material is unidentifiable and undateable. <6> As described by Rigg. Benville Manor is outstanding, the medieval moat to the N. of the house is partly waterlogged and in fair condition. O.S. 1/2500 survey revised. See G.Ps. <7> The moat lies on gently sloping ground. It is rectangular with the filling referred to by Auth 1 thought to have occurred at the North West corner. The moat's sides are approximately 42m long and between 5-10m wide. The outflow was governed by a sluice in the north east corner. Landscaping has probably destroyed any internal earthwork. <9> The moat has clearly been altered on its north, east and west sides, where stone with occasional brick revetment has been added. This is clearest at the north east corner, where a sluice gate, controlling the water level, is located. The moat is dry on the south side, where the probable original form of the moat survives. Here the ditch is up to 4.0m wide and 1.5m deep. Landscaping has levelled the interior, and no internal detail survives. It is likely that the revetment of the moat belongs to the same episode. Masonry on the surface, within the moat, includes coping stones, their origin is unknown. No causeway or abutment point is visible. On the north side of the moat is a low bank 5-6m wide and up to 1m high. This is probably derived from clearance of the moat when the revetment was added. <10>

Record last edited

Nov 17 2022 1:14PM