The Old Manor House

This Grade II building was originally constructed around 1800 and underwent significant reconstruction in 1868 after it was bought by Lord Lovelace.

This dwelling was never actually used as a ‘manor house’ but evolved from an original farmhouse and was part of a larger complex of buildings including Tithe Barn and Bishops Manor. The original ‘Bishops Manor House’ stood behind St Martin’s Church and until the Reformation it belonged to the Bishop of Exeter. That was rebuilt by William Currie around 1820 further to the east, and became the central part of what is today Horsley Towers.

The name ‘The Old Manor House’ was adopted by Lord Lovelace presumably to attract a tenant of appropriate stature. Its design included a mixture of styles including decorative brickwork, terracotta detailing, and flint gables. The front portion, incorporating parts of the old farmhouse, is built of red brick with moulded corbelling and terracotta friezes, whilst the rear and sides appear to have been built at a later stage by Lord Lovelace adopting his customary flint and decorative brick designs. The building also displays a series of distinctive chimney stacks.

In 1971 the building was acquired by Guildford Borough Council and used to provide seven retirement flats. In 2025, after significant deterioration in its internal condition, the building was sold to a development company for refurbishment into privately-owned flats. This work is presently underway.