Alford Manor House facts for kids
The Alford Manor House is a very old and special building located on West Street in Alford, Lincolnshire, England. It's considered one of England's most important historical buildings, known as a Grade II* listed building. People believe it's the biggest thatched manor house in all of England! It was built in 1611 and has a unique "H" shape when you look at it from above.
This house is quite rare because of how it was built. It has a wooden frame, but instead of just showing the wood, it's covered with brick on the outside. Inside, you can still see the original wooden frame with reed and plaster. While the ground and first floors have been updated over the years, showing styles from the Georgian and Victorian eras, the attic floor looks almost exactly as it did in 1611!
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Who Lived in the Manor House?
The Alford Manor House has a long history with many interesting people. It was likely built by someone named John Hopkinson. However, a lot of its story is connected to a wealthy owner named Sir Robert Christopher.
Sir Robert Christopher's Story
Sir Robert Christopher was an important figure during the English Civil War. He supported the King's side, known as the Royalists. After the war ended and King Charles II returned to power in what was called the Restoration, Sir Robert was honored with a knighthood. This shows how important he was at the time.
The House Through Generations
Sir Robert Christopher's granddaughter, Lucy, later inherited the house. She married a very important person, John Manners, who was the Duke of Rutland. After this, the Alford Manor House was often rented out to different families.
One of these tenants was John Higgins, who moved in around 1820. He was a friend of Robert Darwin, who was the father of the famous scientist Charles Darwin. John Higgins worked as a "Land Agent," which means he managed land and property for others. He even set up his office in a newer part of the house, built in the 1800s, on the east side.
A Gift to the Town
Years later, one of John Higgins's relatives, Dorothy Higgins, bought the house. She was a doctor and also a member of the Alford Town Council. In 1958, she bought the property, and then in 1967, she generously gave it to the town of Alford. To take care of this special gift, the Alford Civic Trust was created. They are still in charge of managing and preserving the house today.
How Was the House Built?
The way Alford Manor House was constructed is very unusual for its time. Most houses built in that period used a wooden frame with the spaces filled in with materials like "wattle and daub" (a mix of woven sticks and mud) or just bricks. In those houses, you could see the wooden beams from both the inside and outside.
However, the Alford Manor House was different. Its wooden frame was completely covered with bricks on the outside. These bricks weren't just for decoration; they were actually connected to the house's structure using special parts called "wall plates" and "floor joists." This made the building very strong and unique.
Modern Care for a Historic Home
To keep this amazing piece of history in good condition, the house underwent a big renovation between 2004 and 2006. During this time, the roof was also re-thatched, meaning the old straw roof was replaced with new material.
Today, the Alford Manor House is owned by the Alford and District Civic Trust Ltd. This organization is a Registered Charity (number 252330), which means it's a non-profit group dedicated to helping the community and preserving important heritage like this house.
