Eastbury Manor House
Encyclopedia
Eastbury Manor House is an example of an Elizabethan
building situated in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
in Greater London
, England
.
The house is in the ownership of the National Trust
and is open to visitors.
of Barking Abbey
. It was built in the 1570s by a wealthy merchant Clement Sisley, who purchased the land after the dissolution
of Barking Abbey. It was probably the first brick built building in the area at that time; it had glass windows and very high chimneys, indicating the wealth of the owner. Glass was probably imported from Italy as at that time English glass was relatively poor in quality. A dendrochronology
survey dates a timber framework to 1566 and there is documentary evidence which describes the dates 1572 carved in the brickwork and 1573 on a lead
water spout indicating finishing touches to the building. According to a local legend, the Gunpowder Plot
of 1605 was first conceived at Eastbury.
The house fell into increasing dilapidation from the late 18th century. The Great Tower Staircase was demolished by 1814. Wooden flooring and original fireplaces were removed in the 1830s. By the late 19th century only the west wing of the house was habitable. In 1918 the house was bought by the National Trust and was restored. In 1935 it was opened as the Museum of Barking.
Eastbury Manor House is now managed by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham but is a part of the National Trust. The House was given Grade I listed status in 1954. In recent years the house has benefitted from a major restoration programme, financed through several successful Heritage Lottery Fund bids. The latest phase completed in 2010 includes a major permanent exhibition on the history of the building and its various owners.
The tea-room and shop are open all year from 10am till 3:30pm on Mondays (except Bank Holiday Mondays), Tuesdays and the first and second Saturdays of every month. The property is closed on 27 and 28 December.
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
building situated in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 1,937; and the area was characterised by farming, woodland and the fishing fleet at Barking. This last industry employed 1,370 men and boys by 1850, but by the end of the century had ceased to exist; replaced by...
in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The house is in the ownership of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and is open to visitors.
History
The land on which Eastbury House now stands was once part of the demesneDemesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
of Barking Abbey
Barking Abbey
The ruined remains of Barking Abbey are situated in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England, and now form a public open space.- History :...
. It was built in the 1570s by a wealthy merchant Clement Sisley, who purchased the land after the dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
of Barking Abbey. It was probably the first brick built building in the area at that time; it had glass windows and very high chimneys, indicating the wealth of the owner. Glass was probably imported from Italy as at that time English glass was relatively poor in quality. A dendrochronology
Dendrochronology
Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating is the scientific method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree-rings. Dendrochronology can date the time at which tree rings were formed, in many types of wood, to the exact calendar year...
survey dates a timber framework to 1566 and there is documentary evidence which describes the dates 1572 carved in the brickwork and 1573 on a lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
water spout indicating finishing touches to the building. According to a local legend, the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
of 1605 was first conceived at Eastbury.
The house fell into increasing dilapidation from the late 18th century. The Great Tower Staircase was demolished by 1814. Wooden flooring and original fireplaces were removed in the 1830s. By the late 19th century only the west wing of the house was habitable. In 1918 the house was bought by the National Trust and was restored. In 1935 it was opened as the Museum of Barking.
Eastbury Manor House is now managed by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham but is a part of the National Trust. The House was given Grade I listed status in 1954. In recent years the house has benefitted from a major restoration programme, financed through several successful Heritage Lottery Fund bids. The latest phase completed in 2010 includes a major permanent exhibition on the history of the building and its various owners.
Opening times
The house and grounds are open all year from 10am till 4pm on Mondays (except Bank Holiday Mondays), Tuesday and the first and second Saturdays of every month.The tea-room and shop are open all year from 10am till 3:30pm on Mondays (except Bank Holiday Mondays), Tuesdays and the first and second Saturdays of every month. The property is closed on 27 and 28 December.
Further reading
- Eastbury Manor House - A step back in time Gillian Gillespie (LB B&D: Heritage and History Publications 2002)
- Eastbury Manor House, Barking A Survey of London (Monograph series) (English Heritage, 1917) out of print
External links
- National Trust - Eastbury Manor House
- London Borough of Barking and Dagenham - Heritage and History: Eastbury Manor House
- The Gunpowder Plot Society Eastbury Manor's possible links with the Gunpowder PlotGunpowder PlotThe Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
.