Description

The following building shall be added to the list:-

ST 64 NE LEIGH-ON-MENDIP CP LEIGH STREET
(South side)

2/10002 Prescot

GV II

House. Late C15/early C16, modernised in early C17, with
alterations and minor extensions of C19 and C20. Random rubble
walls, left-hand part of house rendered, C20 rear outshuts
rendered blockwork. Right-hand part of house has plain clay tile
roof, left-hand part has a corrugated asbestos roof. c19 rear
leanto has a pantile roof, the other outshuts are roofed with
corrugated sheets.
Brick axial stack and one to left-hand side of cross-wing.
Plan: Hall and through passage with two room cross-wing to the
left, apparently contemporary. The hall was originally open to
the roof with a central hearth. An original closed truss on the
upper side of the passage suggests that the cross-wing is coeval
and was two storey from the outset. It consists of a front and
rear room, both heated. In the circa early C17 the hall stack
was inserted backing onto the passage and this end of the house
was floored. The hall has a very narrow room subdivided off it
at the right-hand end, it is unclear whether this is an original
arrangement or was carried out when the house was divided into
two cottages, probably in the C19. At this time a leanto was
added at the rear of the passage and in the C20 further outshuts
were built at the rear, the eaves of the house were raised and
a new roof put on.
Exterior: 2.storeys. Asymmetrical facade with large cross-wing
projecting slightly to the left. Doorway to through passage
immediately adjoins cross-wing and has a C20 leanto porch in
front of it with a 4-panelled and part-glazed door. To the right
of the porch on the ground floor is a C17 3-light stone mullion
ovolo-moulded window. Above it is a 2-light C19 small-paned wood
casement. To the right on the ground floor is a C19 plank door.
The cross-wing has a large C20 3-light metal casement window on
each floor. Rear elevation has cross-wing projecting slightly
from the right-hand side. In front of it is a C19 leanto with
ramshackle C20 outshuts to the left. On the ground floor of the
main range is an C18 2-light square section stone mullion window.
2 circa early C20 2-light wooden casements above. C20 corrugated
iron leanto at left-hand end.
Interior of considerable interest. Passage has C17 post and
panel screen to left-hand side with chamfered surrounds to the
panels and four-centred arch above doorway into front room of
cross-wing. Doorway into room behind it has been altered but
appears to have been similar. At the rear of the passage is the
original stone arched doorway with a 2-centred head. The front
room of the cross-wing has one richly moulded ceiling beam along
its front wall, others may be concealed above a modern ceiling.
C20 grate in corner may conceal an older fire place. Room behind
it has partially blocked fireplace with rough stone surround and
a wooden spiral staircase beside it. To the right of the passage
a wooden 4-centred arch leads into the original hall. It has
a large stone-framed fireplace which is elaborately moulded.
Above it is a chamfered and stopped ceiling beam.
Roof: One medieval roof truss survives with a few other
associated timbers. It is a closed truss of unusual cruck form
located immediately above the passage screen with probably a
timber-framed partition inbetween. No joint is visible in the
cruck blades until at the level of the top purlin where the
principals terminate and are crudely jointed into a light
superstructure which supports the ridge. The collar is morticed-
in lower down and 2 purlins survive on the front slope where
there are also a few common rafters. The truss is infilled with
wattle and daub and this, like the surviving timbers, is smoke-
blackened. The roof over the remainder of the hall range has
been raised and renewed and this extends some way over the cross-
wing as well, but a full inspection could not be made at the time
and there may be older timbers surviving there.

This is an unusual survival in this area of a late medieval house
with an interesting plan form and a number of good quality
features from several periods. It has escaped late C20
modernisation and further features probably exist which are
presently concealed.

Listing NGR: ST6903647231

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26545097

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper