An Independent congregation was in existence in Keyworth from at least 1704 and a chapel was erected in 1768. The congregation seems to have had strong roots in the local farming community. It would appear that a manse was built at around the same time as the chapel or shortly thereafter. The chapel, most recently occupied by the Indian Nights restaurant, lies immediately north of the boundary of the site. The Old Manse was most recently in use as premises of the British Legion. (2)

New information relating to the Old Manse included a cellar located in the western part of the building, presumably in the area designated for service related activities, and a well located a short distance to the north. A bricked up opening in the surviving wall can be identified with some confidence as door providing access between the Old Manse and the chapel. The feature is mentioned in documentary sources and would appear to have been infilled as part of modifications carried out in the 1960s or possibly slightly later. The scars of internal walls visible on the face of the surviving wall indicate the layout of the building prior to late 20th century opening out of interior spaces by the British Legion. (2)

The foundations of the manse comprised irregular and variably sized coursed limestone ranging from around 0.15m to 0.30m thick. Above the limestone the wall was constructed in red brick varying slightly around measurements of 9½ inches long by 2½ inches thick and bonded with hard light grey mortar. (2)

At ground floor in the wall, a vertical bricked-up opening was c. 1m wide and 2.10m high, consistent with the former presence of a door. The opening was infilled with shorter and thicker bricks c. 8½ inches long by 2⅞ inches thick, some with banding indicative of 20th century manufacture. The door would have provided access between the Old Manse and chapel and is almost certainly the feature mentioned in c. mid-20th century documents, in the context of plans for modification of the building. In additional to the blocked-up doorway (revealed after the removal of plaster in the area containing the stairs), the scars from two internal walls were visible in the remaining wall, indicating the layout prior to opening of the interiors by the British Legion. (2)

<1> Nottinghamshire County Council, 2000 - 2015, NCC Historic Buildings Team notes (Unknown). SNT6222.

<2> R. Trimble, 2024, 2 Bunny Lane, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Unpublished document). SNT6466.