The ancient Manors of East Court and West Court Finchampstead date from 1298, and this website endeavours to capture as much as possible of the history, lineage, characters, legends, images and other information relating to East Court.

SUMMARY
As the most historic private dwelling in Finchampstead, East Court is listed Grade 2 by English Heritage and is set on a tree-screened plot approaching 2 acres. It continues to be set amongst the fields that used to comprise the immediate estate lands, with views over adjoining fields to the Norman Church, the village cricket ground, and to the more distant Trilakes Water and Nature reserve.

Photographs of the property, grounds, and views can be found here, and a higher aerial photograph here, along with a closer aerial photo here.

Information about renovation works can be found here.

THE MANOR HOUSE and THE COACH HOUSE The property comprises the following: Main house comprising 8 bedrooms, 3 baths, 4-5 receptions, 2 conservatories, and integral guest wing of 3 beds. Independent Coach House conversion for Granny annexe or staff accommodation: large kitchen/diner, lounge, conservatory, 2-3 beds, bathroom. Self-contained separate brick-built home-office. Range of stables and outbuildings. Large private driveway behind electric gates offering extensive secure parking. Gardens approaching 2 acres with mature trees, lawns and a working well.

MORE DETAILS:

The principle house is a substantial family home, including a historic panelled entrance hall, 25ft drawing room, family room, formal dining room, snooker/games room, bar room, kitchen, two conservatories, two downstairs cloakrooms, a utility room and coldroom/pantry, a boiler/drying room, tool room and paintroom/workshop.

Up the formal staircase on the first floor, there are 5 main bedrooms (including an impressive wood-panelled master bedroom) 3 guest bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and on the second floor, a further 3 bedrooms, with splendid views to the Trilakes.

A cellar runs from the centre of the house below the main hall to the front door. The property retains many of its original architectural features including a number of working fireplaces.

Adjoining but separate from the main house is a large self-contained annexe, created out of the old Coach House and Stables. This comprises a large Kitchen/dining room, which retains some of the old stable panels, a lounge with attached conservatory, and ground floor cloakroom. Up the traditional cast-iron spiral staircase are 2 bedrooms, bathroom, and a landing space suitable as a study area or 3rd bedroom.

Both properties include their own independent gas-fired central heating. The main house benefits from a traditional cast-iron gas stove in the family room and a traditional coal/log fire in the drawing room, whilst the Coach House has a coal/wood-burning stove in the main hall that gently warms the whole property.

Outside, there is a stand-alone single storey brick-built home-office which was probably originally the tackroom and gunroom. Four stables adjoin the old coach house, and there are further old stables (some of which have been re-roofed) across the courtyard.

The garden includes formal lawn, a working well of some 26 foot depth, tree-lined borders (including Acers and a mature Monkey Puzzle tree), a shady copse and wildlife strip.

Our purpose in creating and maintaining this website is to capture for posterity the fascinating history of this estate, and 125 years on, to continue the 'chronicling' of William Lyon, a resident of East Court who wrote the 'Chronicles of Finchampstead' in the 1880s and 90s.

E&OE - we have taken great care in compiling this history: if you have any information you can add, or are able to correct or amend any inaccuracies, please do contact us.