Bradley (house) facts for kids
Bradley Manor is a really old house in Newton Abbot, Devon, England. It's a special kind of house called a manor house, which was like a big home for a wealthy family long ago. Bradley Manor is tucked away among trees and fields in the valley of the River Lemon, just a short distance from the main town. Today, this amazing historic house is looked after by the National Trust, an organization that protects important places.
Exploring Bradley Manor
Bradley Manor is a smaller but very complete medieval manor house. It's one of the best examples of its kind in Devon. Most of what you see today was built by Richard and Joan Yarde. They owned the house starting in 1402. Richard Yarde was an important person, serving as the Sheriff of Devon in 1442.
One cool thing about Bradley Manor is its old chapel. It's a separate building right next to the main house. Some people think the architect who designed Bradley Manor might have been inspired by Dartington Hall, another famous old building nearby.
Inside the House
Inside Bradley Manor, you can find many interesting features. In one of the upstairs rooms, there are old patterns of black fleur-de-lys stenciled on the walls. These patterns are very old and show how the house was decorated long ago. The main hall, called the Great Hall, has the royal arms of Queen Elizabeth I displayed. This shows the house's connection to important historical figures.
The house also has a collection of beautiful art from the Pre-Raphaelite movement. You can also see furniture from the Arts and Crafts period. These art styles were popular in the 1800s and early 1900s.
The Chapel
The chapel at Bradley Manor is a simple but special building. It was officially made a holy place in 1428. It's about 21 ft (6.4 m) long. Inside, you'll find a stone altar and a beautiful east window. The roof is original and shaped like a wagon.
Over the years, the chapel was used for many different things. During the Protestant Reformation, it stopped being used as a church. Later, it was a chicken house, a billiard room, a dining room, and even a barn! Its roof was fixed up in 1993, bringing it back to its original look.
The Surroundings
The woods around Bradley Manor are very special. They have been named a SSSI. This means they are a great example of natural woodland that grows on limestone.
A small stream called the Bradley Leat flows past the house. This stream used to bring water to the mills that belonged to the manor. These mills were located where the cattle market in Newton Abbot is today.
Bradley Manor was given to the National Trust in 1938 by Mrs. A. H. Woolner. Her family still lives in the house and helps the National Trust manage it.
More to Explore
- The Puritan's Pit is a nearby spot on the other side of the River Lemon. In the 1600s, people who didn't follow the main church used to hold their services there.
- The Great Western Railway built a series of steam trains called the Manor class. These trains were named after different manor houses. One of them, Locomotive 7802, was named after Bradley Manor! You can still see this train today on the Severn Valley Railway.
