Manor Hall, Great Church Lane

LXIII.—MANOR HALL, GREAT CHURCH LANE

Ground landlord, leaseholders, etc.

The building is occupied by the Royal Female Philanthropic Society.

General description and date of structure.

Manor Hall stands on the north side of Great Church Lane, and its garden adjoins Rose and Crown Lane on the east. The building is an interesting one, but its history is by no means clear, nor have we any documentary evidence to help us. The internal detail of the house belongs to the first quarter of the 18th century and probably to the reign of Queen Anne, but the curious arrangement of the rooms and staircase suggests that they have been inserted in the shell of an earlier building, which seems partly corroborated by the thickness of the walls.

A reference to the plan (Plate 119) will show the triangular staircase with a panelled passage passing south and west and enclosing a large room with the angle taken off. The whole is panelled on both floors, as is also the smaller room to the north-west, and the detail is of an early character. The stair, with three balusters to each tread and vigorously carved stair-ends, is made more picturesque by its unusual shape and the later gateway on its third flight. The south-west room has been enlarged towards the roadway and fitted up as a chapel. The eastern part is occupied by the kitchen.

The exterior of the house has been modernised, but the old entrance doorway with Ionic pilasters, entablature and pediment remains, as also some of the old window frames with original sashes. In the centre of the railings is a wrought-iron gateway, flanked by scrollwork panels and surmounted by a simple overthrow, beneath two arched stays supporting a lamp-ring.

It is quite probable that the fabric of the house is of considerable age, but however that may be, its 18th-century details are of the first interest.

Condition of repair.

Good.

Historical and biographical notes.

Although the identification is not certain, it seems probable that Manor Hall is the house occupied in Thomas Faulkner's time by the Burlington House School kept by Mr. Hoare. (fn. 1)

From the Court Rolls of the Manor of Fulham we learn that on 15th December, 1773, Mary Oakes was admitted to the property on the surrender of Augustine Styles, under the terms of a deed of settlement dated 8th May, 1764, between Augustine Styles, Sarah his wife (under her then name of Oakes), and Mary Oakes. On 3rd October, 1821, Mary Oakes, widow, surrenders and George Gaviller is admitted. On 26th January, 1822, he surrenders to William Hoare the schoolmaster, and the property is thus described: "all that messuage or tenement situate in Great Church Lane, heretofore called the Back Lane, in Hammersmith, and holders of the said manor, formerly in the occupation of Sir Christopher Hales Bart., and now of the said William Hoare and known by the name of the Burlington House Academy, and also in all that piece or parcel of garden ground in the rear of the garden belonging to the said messuage formerly in the occupation of Peer Watts." (fn. 2)

In the Council's ms. collection are:

(fn. 3) Ground and first floor plan (measured drawing).

(fn. 3) Section showing stair and panelling (measured drawing).

General view from road (photograph).

Entrance doorway (photograph).

(fn. 3) Staircase (photograph).

Detail of balustrade to stair (photograph).