Prebendal Manor, Northamptonshire

Restored by the current owner, the Grade I-listed manor is now known to be the oldest surviving dwelling in Northamptonshire, with a history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period.

Rear of the manor

The manor forms the focus of a group of stone buildings, which include a 16th-century dovecote, a large 18th-century tithe barn and a 15th-century lodgings building. Two of the prebendaries of this manor were closely connected to Richard III, only losing their positions in court on his death.

The gardens retain echoes of the medieval layout and you will find plants selected from lists including the earliest English gardening book by 'Jon Gardener' and a 15th-century 'Leech Book' containing medical recipes that Nicholas Colnet, physician to Henry Vth during the Agincourt campaign, might have used. He was given the Prebendal Manor in 1417, probably in return for his services.

Owner-led tour of the manor, the gardens, dovecote and tithe barn £22 including tea/coffee and cakes in the tithe barn.

Visitors' views:

• This was the stuff that makes Historic Houses different from certain other more corporate-led visitor attractions. The tour was an owner-led exploration full of history and present day knowledge. A highly informative and at the same time personal tour. A delightful afternoon spent in a part of the world that deserves to be better appreciated. Visit the Manor. See something different.
  
• Thank you very much for the tour around the Manor and gardens this afternoon. It was very obvious that you have devoted much of your time to researching and restoring the Manor. You delivered this with affection and humour, thank you for the interesting way that you engaged us, especially with the signs to keep the devil away and extra information. The tea and cakes were super too.
• Fantastic tour of the manor, tithe and dovecote barns, and garden by owner Jane. Jane is a very knowledgeable lady who has clearly spent a huge amount of time, care and thought renovating etc. I’d highly recommend a tour. (Amazing cake too!)
• Thank you so much for a wonderful tour today. Your home and garden will stay in our thoughts for a very long time. A privilege to be allowed to view. 

Please see our cancellation policy below:
If you cancel more than two weeks before the tour is scheduled to take place, we will fully refund your ticket money excluding any phone booking fees. If it’s less than 14 days before a tour, for any reason, we regret that we cannot refund your ticket money unless we can resell your ticket(s). If we cancel at any time, we will fully refund your ticket money. Although we make every effort to avoid it, sometimes a tour has to be cancelled at short notice due to circumstances beyond our control. In this case, we cannot accept responsibility for, or refund, any consequential losses, such as money spent on travel or accommodation.