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The Commandery and Manor House

The Commandery or Preceptory

Little is known of the physical size of the North Baddesley Commandery or Preceptory. It was located in the grounds of the present Manor House, certainly boasted a gatehouse and a chapel and was referred to as the "monastery". Richard Morley of Hursley claimed that "Ralph Blencowe taught him school at Baddesley in the gatehouse of the old monastery in the year of the great storm" (1582). The gatehouse would have led into a courtyard of sorts.

From a 14th century Cartulary of Godsfield and Baddesley, it is known that the Knights were established in Baddesley before 1153 and they probably occupied the original manor farmhouse which lay to the south west of the current house. By the beginning of the 1300s they had acquired all the village lands, including the church, and it was probably from that date they began building the Preceptory. It hosted a Royal visit on the night of 17th February 1305/6 when King Edward I, en route from Maystone to Winchester, transacted business "at Budeslee". Therefore, whilst not on the grand scale of Romsey or Beaulieu, it was certainly more grand than the Godsfield Commandery that it eventually replaced in the 1300's. South of the Manor there are old ponds that may well have been the Commandery's fish-ponds; a large 16th century barn and, apparently, the present-day gardens are littered with stones and brickwork under the surface.

This photograph, showing ancient foundation stones and brickwork, was taken back in the 1960's. The ruins probably date from the time of the Commandery and were located along Nutburn Lane, although they have long since disappeared. This was obviously no domestic building and may well be the remains of the gatehouse mentioned by Marsh. It is interesting to note from an 1826 estate map that the footpath to Romsey began at this point.

Although in 1808 John Marsh stated that the mediaeval kitchens had survived almost intact, he was probably referring to the 16th century wash house which still survives in the South Wing of the present house.

The cellars, approached by an interesting old studded door, are obviously very much older than the current house.

The most interesting part of the present buildings is the stable block, which, viewed from the north, looks like a large much altered brick building.

However, the view from the south, shows that the building is mediaeval in appearance with huge blocks of stone at the corners. This was almost certainly the original chapel of the Knight Hospitallers.

The Elizabethan Manor House

When the Order of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem was dissolved in 1540, all their property, including the Commandery at Baddesley, was confiscated by King Henry VIII. During the rest of the 16th century the Manor passed to Sir Thomas SEYMOUR, back to the crown, Sir Nicholas THROCKMORTON of Warwickshire and then to John FOSTER or FORSTER of Romsey. Due to their prominence in national affairs, it is unlikely that either Sir Thomas or Sir Nicholas took up residence in the village, so in all probability it was John FOSTER who was responsible for building the first Manor House from the ruins of the Commandery.

It can be surmised from the detail of a 1588 map that hangs at Hursley Park a few miles away that there was quite a large collection of building on the site. Close inspection of the 1759 map of Baddesley shows clearly the traditional Elizabethan E shape. From the Hearth Tax returns of 1664, the house had approximately 22 rooms and they were almost certainly laid out in the standard pattern of these manor houses, although in this case the roles of the two wings may have been reversed with the kitchens in the right wing. On the upper floor the long gallery was used for entertaining, as a family area, for exercise on dull days, and as a portrait gallery, the long gallery was an almost universal feature of Elizabethan manors. It had windows on three sides and fireplaces along the fourth, and it usually ran the entire length of the floor.

The main entry was the most ostentatious and elaborate part of the manor house; it was here that the wealthy man felt most free to lavish his wealth. Entries were often a curious mix of heraldic pretention and classical columns, profuse carvings and ornate decoration. The material of choice for those who could afford it was stone but brick was common too. Elizabethan chimney stacks were often built to resemble classical columns and were square in section, as opposed to the twisting, corkscrew patterns of the Tudor years. These chimneys were often clustered in groups of two or three, so the manor would have had a number of tall stacks. Windows were generally large, made up of a multitude of small rectangular panes separated by thin mullions. If the 1759 map is correct then the Manor House was south facing. (It would seem logical for the windows to be positioned to catch the sun.)

The Elizabethan house unfortunately did not survive as, according to Gough's Camden (1789), the house was destroyed by fire 'about ten years ago' . However some of the features have survived into the current house, namely: old oak floors and woodwork of 17th, or possibly 16th, century date in the East wing, an iron-studded door to the beer cellar in the South wing, and an open fireplace in the washhouse, which appears to be of 16th or 17th century date. The stable block also seems to have survived from earlier times and the surrounding wall is of 18th century origin.

The Present Manor House

The current manor house was built around 1789 by the then Lord of the Manor Sir Thomas CHAMBERLAYNE. It has changed very little in outward appearance since that time. It certainly had not been used by the Lords of the Manor as their "seat" for many years, and the various censuses through the 19th century indicate that a different family was living there at each census, probably just renting it for a period from the Lord. It was approached via a driveway which shows on the 1870 Ordnance Survey map, exiting on Nutburn Lane opposite Body Farm and not by the existing entrance to the north opposite the church. (This southern entrance may well have been the approach for the earlier Elizabethan manor, if not the commandery itself). The photograph was taken in the 19th century.

In the 20th century, it has served time as the Rectory, has also lain empty and neglected for long periods and even been fire-bombed with incendaries. In more recent years, a builder has purchased it as his family home and the house has been restored.

	This photograph, showing ancient foundation stones and brickwork, was taken back in the 1960's. The ruins probably date from the time of the Commandery and were located along Nutburn Lane, although they have long since disappeared. This was obviously no domestic building and may well be the remains of the gatehouse mentioned by Marsh. It is interesting to note from an 1826 estate map that the footpath to Romsey began at this point.
Although in 1808 John Marsh stated that the mediaeval kitchens had survived almost intact, he was probably referring to the 16th century wash house which still survives in the South Wing of the present house.
	The cellars, approached by an interesting old studded door, are obviously very much older than the current house.
The most interesting part of the present buildings is the stable block, which, viewed from the north, looks like a large much altered brick building.
	However, the view from the south, shows that the building is mediaeval in appearance with huge blocks of stone at the corners. This was almost certainly the original chapel of the Knight Hospitallers.