VISUAL ROTA from CDT index page

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The Old Rectory front elevation has many styles of architecture. There have been additions to the building many times over the years. We bought the building and grounds in 1984. It is a large and rambling house of some 20,000 sq ft.

CDT began about 5 years ago producing computer programs for the nursing home, these included the staff scheduling program(now called Visual Rota), databases, care plans and management programs to analyse the finances of the home.

History of the House

When guests stay here we often give them a tour of the house and an insight into its history and how the village grew up around it. The oldest building in this area is our church, started by the saxons and here we quote from 'The King's England'.

' pronounced "Airam", has a fine little church standing high on a bank of the Trent with a wealth of trees in the churchyard, and a magnificent cedar in the lovely garden of the rectory lifting its branches above the tower. Herringbone masonry in the walls of the church takes its story back to early Norman or even Saxon days, and the rest of it is mainly 14th and 15th century. The tower comes from both these times, the 15th century storey crowned with rich battlements and pinnacles and adorned with quaint gargoyles. The nave and the porch, with the initials of its builder (Sir Thomas Sutton), are also 15th century. The 600-year-old chancel, which has no arch, has a splendid east window, a priest's doorway, some fine old glass pieced together from- fragments found at Kelham Hall, and a plain oak Screen mostly 500 years old. There is a Jacobean altar table. Fine oak panelling and seating of this century are in memory of Joseph Walker, who was rector here for 51 years, as Richard Sutton had been before him till 1785. There are many memorials of the Suttons, and the village is proud of its connection with this old Family which has now become Manners-Sutton. They lived here and at Kelham, but only a few mounds are left to mark the site of their Averham house, which Cromwell's soldiers destroyed. Robert de Sutton had the estate in the 13th century after the death of his uncle, Henry de Lexington, the last of three Famous brothers of Laxton whose name gave the Suttons the title of their peerage in the I7th century. Charles Manners-Sutton followed Richard as rector in I785, and became Archbishop of Canterbury. his son became Speaker of the House of Commons, and his brother Lord Chancellor of Ireland. On a great tomb with painted decoration lies Sir William Sutton in armour, a courtier of the time of Elizabeth. He is with his lady, and part of the inscription runs,

Thrice nine years lived he with his lady faire,

A lovely, noble, and like vertuous pair.

On the opposite wall of the chancel is a memorial to their son Robert who was MP for , served Charles I in the garrison at Newark till its surrender, and was created Baron Lexington for his help in raising money. His son Robert, who was born at Averham in 1661 and became 2nd Lord Lexington, was a great diplomatist, and lost his only son at Madrid while he was Ambassador there. The body was sent home in a bale of cloth, and both parents and son sleep at Kelham, in a great tomb. Among the trees at Averham Rectory is a unique theatre, the product of the Rev Joseph Cyril Walker who was rector Of Averham From 1907 until his death in 1942. before 1913 he had been producing musicals in the village schoolroom, but he had great ambitions, and in 1912 with the help of Mr Robert Lee, the village carpenter, he commenced the building of this theatre. People came to see it from miles around, and the rector would time his productions to take place when there was a full moon to light the villagers' way to the theatre. It was to flourish for nearly 40 years until in 1951 new fire regulations caused it to close. In 1961 the conditions which caused it to close were met, and the restored theatre was opened on July 1, 1961.

A few explanations of the above are required. Kelham is another village about 500yds away and both houses, The Rectory and Kelham Hall were owned by the same family. When the family seat moved to Kelham after the English civil war, Averham was still part of their estate. The sons of English noble families would be ranked in order, the first son inherited the family titles and estates and sit in the House of Lords, the second son went into the church and when he became a Bishop would also sit in the House of Lords, the third son went into the army and hopefully also end up in the House of Lords having won the odd battle or two. The fourth son would have to seek his fortune elsewhere. We are often asked 'what is a Rector?' and the answer is that, in the olden days everyone had to pay a tithe of 10% to the church and it was the Rector that kept the money. The Rector would then employ vicars to do the work. Hence, very often rectories are quite large and grand buildings, reflecting their wealth and importance.

The Old Rectory has parts of the building dating back to the 1600's and the style is very 'Olde Worlde' or Jacobean, with beamed ceilings and Yorkshire sliding sash windows. This was a 3 story building of 5 bays on the west face and 6 bays on the east face. Extensions were added to the building in 1839 and these are Georgian in style and open off the Jacobean rooms. Hence you walk from low ceilinged rooms into very large, high ceilinged rooms, and yet the contrast seems very natural.

The next picture is of me working on the top floor of the building.

The gardens are about 3 acres and contain many beautiful trees including a 40ft Ginkgo and a 70ft Monkey Puzzle tree, the first ever trees and eaten by dinosaurs, also we have an American giant Redwood, and did you know that you can punch its bark as hard as you like and it won't hurt you because its so soft. We stand on a raised knoll overlooking the River Trent and surrounded by countryside

To the side and rear there are extensive lawned gardens, large orchard, kitchen garden, boiler house with three oil central heating boilers and sink- Garden store.
There are views to the rear towards Averham Church and the River Trent.