News from Ellys Manor House

Ellys Manor House
A 16th century wool merchant’s home

We have mentioned in the past the ‘wool churches’ of the south east England, built by medieval wool merchants, but until recently have not heard of any merchant’s houses. We have assumed that these have either been destroyed or altered to such an extent that they are no longer recognisable. However, a chance meeting, just before Christmas at the Celebration of British Livestock, directed us to a house which gives a good indication of the wealth accrued by the 14th to 16th century wool merchants.

Understanding the allegorical language of the ellys manor house paintings

Part 2 Dissertation 2016
Robin Isabelle Moran
De Montfort University Leicester UK

Entry in The RIBA President's Medals Student Awards

This dissertation examines a little known collection of 15th century allegorical wall paintings in Ellys Manor, a small, privately owned and well preserved English wool-merchant’s house in Lincolnshire.

The products of Ellys Manor House have been featured in The World of Interiors Magazine in June, July, August and September editions in 2016.

Much of the work featured was inspired by the by the fabulous early 16th century domestic wall paintings up at the house.

A painted fable

a fox

a hollow fox

framed with columns

trees     acanthus leaves

faded on dampened walls,

restored to new life

with passion and care -

a renaissance within

At Ellys Manor House, we would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has visited the house thus far (in the last seven years), and contributed to our wall paintings appeal. Due to your kindness we have managed to have a section of these important works conserved by Bianca Madden and Claudia Fiocchetti, two of our very finenest conservators in this field of work.

For anyone who does not know of Ellys Manor House and the important late medieval/renaissance domestic wall paintings in the upper rooms, I urge you strongly to visit.