Description

BUERTON C.P. (Off) WOODHOUSE LANE
SJ 64 SE
7/8 Highfields
10.6.52

- I

Small country house. Dated 1615. Built for the Dodds family and
added to in 1750 by William Baker and again in 1897. Timber framed on
an ashlar plinth with rendered infill and a plain tiled roof. Two
storeys with attic. Entrance front: five bays symmetrically disposed
with projecting gabled wings to either side. Both floors have
close-studded walling with a middle rail. The first floor is jettied
as are the gables of the two lateral wings. Above the 3 recessed
central bays is a wide gable, probably added in 1750. Almost all of
the windows are of C19 date and have ovolo-moulded projecting
surrounds. Central gabled porch to the ground floor of C19 date with
a 4-centered arch, the lintel of which is inscribed WD 1615. To
either side are cusped panels above which are quatrefoils. Two-light
C19 windows to either side and three to the first floor with a 3-light
similar window to the centre of the C18 gable. The lateral wings have
4-light windows to the ground floor with 3-light windows to the first
floor and attic. The left hand side of the right hand gable has a
3-light C17 mullioned window at first floor level. To the left of
this front and slightly recessed is a wing of 1897 which has similar
close studding with middle rail and a doorway at right with
single-light windows to either side and to the left, but in a slightly
projecting wing a 4-light ground floor and a 3-light first floor
window with a 3-light window to the attic. To either side of the
original house are massive brick chimney breasts with stacks of C19
Rhuabon brick, the left hand one largely masked by the addition of
1897. Right hand side: the projecting chimney breast is at left of
centre. To the left of it is blank close-studded walling with middle
rail to both floors, jettied first floor having an ovolo moulded
bressumer. To the right of the firebreast and projecting to a level
flush with it is a small gabled wing added in 1750 by William Baker,
also of close studding with a middle rail and having a 3-light ground
floor window and a canted oriel window to the first floor with richly
moulded underside. To the right again is close-studded walling with
middle rails having one ground floor C17 3-light window at left with
ovolo-moulded mullions. The rear has a large central projecting wing
of 1750 by William Baker with a C19 canted bay window to the ground
floor with 3 central lights and 2 to each of the angles and coving
above. First floor window above of 4 lights. To either side are
gabled wings that at left having a 2-light ground floor and 4-light
first floor window and a 2-light casement to the attic. The right
hand wing has a single light ground floor window with 4-light first
floor and 2-light attic windows. To the right again is the addition
of 1897 which has a prominent projecting gabled wing at right with
French windows and a 2-light window to the ground floor and 3-light
casements to the first floor and attic.
Interior: The entrance hall has C19 dado panelling and a fireplace of
C18 or C19 date including pieces of C17 panelling brought from
elsewhere. The room to the right of this is fully panelled, mainly in
the C19 but including some C17 run-through panelling. Oak fire
surround with terms to either side of the fire with long hair and
moustaches. To the centre of the lintel is a projecting keystone with
a grotesque mask in high relief. To either side in rectangular frames
are the initials WD and the date 1615 at left and right respectively.
The overmantel has three niches flanked by miniature Corinthian
columns on diamond rusticated plinths. The niches contain figures
with crossed arms and between these are panels of strapwork with
cherubs heads to the centre. Ovolo moulded and stopped beams to the
ceiling. Two staircases, both of late C17 form, that at right of the
entrance hall has double entwined spiral balusters with square newel
posts and a moulded balustrade. The staircase at left of the entrance
hall is of 2 close-string flights with a ½-landing and a 1/4 turn to
the top of the lower flight. It was originally of 2 open-string
flights set at right angles. It has barley sugar twist balusters with
newels formed of 4 such balusters, a moulded and ramped handrail with
square caps, and a cut string. The old kitchen has an ingle nook
fireplace with C19 panelling and a C19 painted ashlar fireplace with a
projecting hood decorated with bands of fishscale ornament and
supported on large carved volutes. The drawing room of 1760 has a
fireplace and overmantel bought from elsewhere and inscribed
16 JOHN 74
GWYNN
Ovolo moulded ceiling beams to the upstairs rooms and the C17
fireplace which appears to have been brought from elsewhere as well as
a C19 pine chimneypiece commemorating the visit of the Duke of
Wellington to the vicarage at Audlem and brought from there in the
C20.

Listing NGR: SJ6749040988

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Highfields at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5758509

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

• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey