In approximately 1817 an ancient moated house which had belonged to the Nevilles and Browns (Barons Montegue), was taken down. It is assumed that this is the same manor house mentioned by Thoroton in the 17th century. This manor house was probably located in what is now the extended garden of the Vicarage on the land immediately west of the churchyard next to the river. Within living memory this field was known as ‘the moat’. On the Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25-inch County series dated 1888 the cutting of the moat is visible at this location.
Probable Location of the original Barnby Manor House
The current Barnby Manor was built in 1848 (another source quotes 1854) by Henry Gilbert Esq. The residential property and estate was sold by auction in 1879, the residential property and some of the land to Mr Frederick Platt. The auction was held in the Town Hall, Newark on Wednesday the 29th day of October 1879 at three, for four o’clock, in twenty four lots containing the manor, compact farms, with excellent farmhouses and buildings, three cottages, accommodation closes and building sites and a blacksmith’s shop - ‘the whole offering most attractive and desirable investments’.
‘The residence, which was erected 25 years ago and built upon a gravely subsoil with white brick made on the estate, is pleasantly situated close to the Newark and Sleaford Road and approached from the north by a carriage drive to the south east front, and entered under a portico. The ground floor comprises a dining room, with east and south aspect; a well proportioned Drawing Room, with south aspect; a library or breakfast room, lighted from the southeast; smoking room and gun room, both looking into the garden but shut off from the entrance hall, which is lighted from the roof; also a bath room or dressing room, a store room, Butler’s pantry, kitchen, scullery, laundry, brewhouse, larders, pantries, courtyard, and other convenient offices. From the entrance hall a stone staircase leads to the principle bedrooms and dressing rooms, which are well lighted and conveniently arranged.’
When sold the estate also contained 1,260 acres of excellent grass, arable and wood lands. Mr Frederick Platt remodelled and rebuilt the mansion in an Elizabethan style.
Last updated: 10 November 2000