The Kretinga Manor Housekeeper’s Home

The Housekeeper’s Home was built some time between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, during the rule of Count Zubovas. It is believed that the family of Count Zubovas was living in this building during the first part of the 19th century because the brick mansion was still in construction. Some time later, Sofija Tiškevičienė was temporarily residing in this building during the reconstruction of the manor.
The building was referred to as The Old Mansion. Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, when A. Tiškevičius was in charge of the manor, there was a laundry room on the first floor, while the second floor housed the families of the manor servants, housekeeper’s stableman and the manor joiner. After the war, the Agricultural Practicum Office of the Kretinga School of Agriculture was established in the main part of the building, while the inhabitants resided in the outbuilding.
The Kretinga Manor Housekeeper’s Home is an L-shaped building. There are two parts to the structure: there is the main building, which is situated along the street, and there is also the outbuilding forming a semi-enclosed courtyard. The walls and foundations are built with stone.
The entrance was on the first floor of the eastern façade. In 1928, street reconstruction works were carried out and the elevation of the entrance became much lower compared to the elevation of the street. That is why the building can now be accessed via the bridge leading to the entrance on the second floor.
In the basement of the Housekeeper’s Home (i.e. the former first floor), three rooms contain paintings of geometric ornaments and plants on the walls and on the ceiling. They date back to the 1930s. The author of said paintings is unknown, but it is believed to have been a professional, who knew and understood the principles of interior decoration of late English Classicism and of 18th–19th century Central Europe It is also believed that the artist who painted the Housekeeper’s Home is also responsible for decorating the Tiškevičius Mansion Chapel.
Manor workers and milkers lived in the outbuilding. The garage of the owner of the manor was also located in this house. Pranciškus Suchanenka, the manor’s joiner, lived in the western part of the outbuilding and had a small workshop in the main building. Two brick barns were situated parallel to the outbuilding, which were joined together by a brick arch.
Renovation works were carried out from 2012 until 2015. Once the renovation is finished, the administration of the museum will move into the Housekeeper’s Home. The basement will feature the regional 16th–20th century history exhibit.
It is a state-protected cultural heritage. It belongs to the complex of the Kretinga Manor.

Source: www.kretingosenciklopedija.lt