Manor House

THE impressive building that stands on the corner of Midland Road and Wood Street, Higham Ferrers, is the Manor House. Taking up an area of almost 10,000sq ft, the L-shaped Elizabethan building is believed to stand on the grounds of previous incarnations, probably dating as far back as 1086.

Some facts are known about the building and its occupants. Following the Norman invasion, William de Ferrers stayed in Higham and by 1237 had claimed the benefits of the Manor.

The next licence holder was Henry, Duke of Lancaster, who reclaimed the benefits in 1354.

One time owner of Sulgrave Manor, Laurence Washington, was also a leaseholder.

The current building is made from local stone and inside it still has carved English oak fire surrounds and the doors, floors and beams are all made out of solid oak.

In more recent times, in 1879, the Crew family, a family of doctors, lived in the house. By the turn of the century, it had changed hands again and in 1913 ownership passed to the Horrell family.

In 1954, the house was presented to the board of directors of the then flourishing company W W Chamberlain but, like so many industries associated with the footwear trade, the company disappeared leaving just one survivor to look across that corner of Higham - the Manor House.