Chevet Grange Farm, including the north-west and north-east courtyard ranges, farmhouse, and former labourers' cottages, Chevet, Wakefield

Summary

Farm buildings and farmhouse, built in phases probably from the late-C18 - late-C19, with later alterations. Coursed hammer-dressed sandstone with mainly stone-slate roofs. Single-storey and two-storey buildings

Description

Farm buildings and farmhouse, built in phases probably from the late C18 - late C19, with later alterations. Coursed hammer-dressed sandstone with mainly stone-slate roofs. Single-storey and two-storey buildings

PLAN: Chevet Grange Farm is a large complex of buildings arranged in a courtyard plan formation. The late-C18/early-C19 farmhouse is located to the east corner of the complex at the south-east end of a single-storey north-east range of back-to-back lean-tos added pre-1841. The north-west side of the courtyard is formed by an extremely large late-C18/early-C19, two-storey threshing barn, stabling and storage range, which is believed to be the earliest element of the farm along with the farmhouse. Set to the west of the main farm buildings is a semi-detached pair of mid-late C19 labourer's cottages.

EXTERIORS: all the pre-1841 buildings incorporate quoined corners apart from the front range of the farmhouse, and some doorways have quoined jambs. Timber multipaned sash and fixed-pane windows exist throughout the complex.

NORTH-WEST RANGE: this two-storey principal range, which is approximately 177ft long, is symmetrical with a long 6-bay central section with a pitched roof flanked by two slightly lower three-bay blocks with end hips to the roof that are believed to have been stabling originally with hay storage above. The central block, which was originally used as a threshing barn, has two large arched openings with quoined jambs to its north-west elevation; that towards the left (north-east) end retains one of its timber double doors, which incorporates an integrated pedestrian doorway, and that towards the right (south-west) end is blocked up and has a later inserted doorway and window following the barn's later conversion and subdivision into a cow/livestock byre. Each arched opening has a square window above; that to the left has a timber shutter covering, whilst that to the right contains a fixed-light nine-light timber window. The first floor of the remaining bays have multipaned windows in the same style, except for the bay to the far right, which has a taking-in door. All the windows have stone surrounds.

The north-east half of the ground floor of the threshing barn has a series of vertical slit ventilators and a later inserted window, whilst the south-east end has later inserted horizontal multipaned windows. Set to the centre of the north-west elevation are the ghost marks of the pitched roofline of an about 1841 semi-octagonal horse gin that was demolished in the late C20. A vertical opening in the wall for the gin's drive shaft survives along with wall ties and an opening with battered sides (the sides incline inwards so that the threshold is the widest part) that would have also housed machinery.

The three-bay stable blocks at each end of the north-west range were originally identical, but have since incurred some alteration. Both ground floors originally had a central doorway with quoined jambs flanked by square windows with stone surrounds incorporating substantial lintels; the windows to the south-west block have been blocked up, but retain their surrounds, and the doorway's lintel has been raised to incorporate a later window inserted immediately above the doorway. The doorway to the north-east block has been converted into a window and its lintel has been raised, and one of the ground-floor windows has been replaced by a later window inserted out of alignment. Taking-in doors with quoined jambs exist to the first floor of each block's innermost bay; that to the south-west end has a later external sandstone and brick stair added, which cuts in front of one of the blocked-up windows. Square multipaned windows with surrounds in the same style as those to the ground floor exist to the centre and outer bays of the first floor; that to the centre of the south-west block is blind.

The range's south-west end elevation incorporates the ghost mark of a lean-to that formed part of the now demolished south-west range. Floor joist holes can also be seen.

The north-west range's south-east courtyard-facing elevation incorporates two large arched openings to the threshing barn that are identically styled and aligned with those on the north-west elevation; again that towards the left (south-west) end has been blocked up and has inserted windows, whilst that towards the north-east end has a replaced timber sliding door with panelling to the upper half of the archway. Later windows have been inserted to the range's ground floor. The stable block at the south-west end has a central doorway flanked by windows to the ground floor and three windows to the first floor, all of which have been blocked up, but retain their surrounds. The stable block at the north-east end is similarly styled, but the doorway has been altered to accommodate the later north-east range, which is connected at a right angle. An additional window has also been inserted to the left of the door. All the windows, including those to the first floor, have multipaned glazing, albeit heavily damaged to some of the windows.

Attached to the north-west range's north-east end elevation is a slightly later single-storey lean-to with Welsh slate roof coverings that have replaced its stone-slate originals. The lean-to forms the uppermost section of the north-east range and incorporates a square four-light window with a stone surround to its north-west side wall.

NORTH EAST RANGE: the north-east range, which connects the farmhouse to the north-west range, is formed of a series of back-to-back single-storey lean-tos set upon sloping ground with the highest ground level at the north-west end. The lean-tos are believed to have been constructed in a number of stages pre-1841. The two lean-tos on the north-east side are separated by an integral covered passageway leading through to the main courtyard; that to the north-west end is earlier and has a widened central doorway with an inserted RSJ lintel flanked by square windows with stone surrounds in the same style as those to the north-west range. The window to the left retains its multipaned glazing with ventilator opening, but that to the right has lost its frame and glazing. The adjacent lean-to, which is believed to have possibly been the last addition to the range, has a wide doorway with sliding double doors, with a multipaned fixed-light window to the right and a doorway to the north-west return contained within the passageway. The south-west-facing lean-tos consist of a probable former blacksmith's forge (later used as a washroom) towards the south-east end with a short chimneystack, and a series of open-fronted bays to the north-west end separated by brick and sandstone dividing walls supporting the roof trusses. The range's two-bays at the far south-east end adjacent to the farmhouse now form part of the farmhouse internally and incorporate windows on both sides, along with a doorway with a modern stable-style door and three-light overlight to the north-east side; all have stone surrounds.

SOUTH-EAST RANGE AND MODERN COURTYARD FEATURES: a partly derelict and heavily altered single-storey south-east range is excluded from the listing, along with an attached early-C21 wall enclosing a large modern patio area and a pergola immediately to the south-west of the farmhouse.

FARMHOUSE: the farmhouse is located at the east corner of the complex with a principal elevation facing south-east. It has a double-pile plan comprised of a front range and a shorter rear service range separated internally by a central corridor, and is of two-storeys plus a basement underneath part of the rear range. Both ranges have hipped roofs with bracketed eaves; the brackets are arranged in pairs to the principal front elevation. The incorporation of quoining to the rear range but not the front range, and also misaligned stone courses, suggests that the rear range is earlier in date. The house has multipaned sash windows (some of which are late-C20 replacements) and the rear range's windows all have stone surrounds. The front range's windows have stone lintels and sills, except for those to the south-west elevation, which have stone surrounds.

The front (south-east) elevation is of a wide four-bays with a short flight of three stone steps leading up to a tall doorway in the third bay with a painted stone surround that forms the main entrance. The entrance contains a six-panel door (the two uppermost panels of which have later inserted glazing) and an overlight that has lost its glazing and is now panelled. Above the entrance is a six-over-six sash window lighting the main stair and landing, and flanking the entrance to both floors are eight-over-eight sash windows. The bay to the far left has six-over-six sash windows to both floors. Set to the roof are a central ridge stack and a larger stack rising from the north-east roof hip; a corresponding chimneystack to the south-west roof hip (evidenced by chimneybreasts internally) has been removed.

The north-east elevation of the front range has quoining to the north corner and a six-over-six sash window to each floor to the right of the chimneystack line. The north-west return has a slender window containing two-over-two sashes. The two-bay north-east elevation of the rear range has six-over-six sash windows to each bay on the ground floor, and a further window in the same style to the first-floor of the left bay; all the windows have stone surrounds. A small light well in front with a grille provides light to a basement window with a replaced frame and glazing.

The four-bay rear (north-west) elevation, which is formed by the shorter rear range has six-over-six sash windows to both floors of the two left bays and a further window to the ground floor of the bay to the far right. Set to the third bay is an eighteen-light stair window with shoulder quoins. Variations in stone weathering and colouring below the stair window reveal the location of a now-demolished small projection marked on OS maps. A substantial chimneystack rises from the roof and is abutted by the north-east range.

The farmhouse's south-west side elevation consists of a wide single-bay with quoined corners belonging to the rear range, which has a three-over-six sash window to the first floor. Attached to the ground floor of the rear range is a large early-C21 orangery that is excluded from the listing. The two-bay front range to the right incorporates a large arched opening to the ground-floor left, which has been partially blocked-up and converted into a window. A later entrance with a large stone lintel has been inserted to the centre. To the first-floor left is a square window containing a three-over-six sash window, with a blind window to the right. A curved wing wall projects out from the house's south corner and curves around to the south-east shielding the outbuildings from view. The wall incorporates an open doorway with a large stone lintel and the southernmost section of the wall incorporates a single-storey lean-to store with quoined corners, a doorway to the north-west wall with a plank and batten door, and a small square ground-level opening to the south-west side with a plank and batten door.

LABOURER'S COTTAGES: the mid-late C19 labourer's cottages are located to the west of the main farm buildings and are constructed of coursed rock-faced sandstone. They consist of a mirror-image pair of single-bay two-storey, semi-detached cottages with a shared pitched stone-slate roof that has lost its central chimneystack. The cottages have substantial lintels to windows and doors that appear to be tooled, although this could be heavy weathering. Each cottage has a single window to each floor on each north-west and south-east elevation, most of which retain their original eight-over-eight sashes. Each cottage has a one and a half-storey gabled service projection attached to the north-east and south-west gable ends with gable-end ridge stacks; the projection to the north-east end has replaced Welsh slate roof coverings, whilst that to the south-west end cannot be observed due to heavy vegetation covering the entire south-west cottage. The projections have aligned doorways with plank and batten doors on each north-west and south-east side that create through-passages internally and adjacent windows. Slender paired four-over-four sash windows exist to the north-east projection's gable end at attic level, whilst the corresponding windows at the south-west end have replaced casements. Further windows in the same style exist to the main gable ends behind and flank the pitched roofline of the projections.

INTERIORS:

NORTH-WEST RANGE: the north-west range's huge central threshing barn has been subdivided internally by the insertion of brick walls and also has a later inserted first floor, which is partly supported by tree-trunk supports at the south-west end. The first floor, which was not fully accessible due to some unsafe timbers, is accessed via an external stair and a high Jacob's ladder in the south-west section of the barn, which was latterly used as a cow byre at this end and has a C20 concrete floor and feeding troughs* alongside the north-west and south-east walls (the concrete floor and modern troughs are not of special interest). On the first floor behind the site of the horse gin are surviving flat drive pulleys associated with the gin. The roof of the threshing barn survives, including the rafters and side purlins, and is composed of queen-post trusses with later additional vertical post supports and some replaced truss timbers towards the south-west end.

On the ground floor of the south-west former stable block, which was latterly used as a cow byre, there are stone and brick troughs alongside the south-west wall. The first floor has mostly been removed apart from a small section that now forms a mezzanine gallery alongside the north-east wall. A later inserted doorway off the mezzanine leads onto the later inserted first floor over the threshing barn. The roof structure survives, including the rafters and side purlins, and is composed of queen post trusses with additional king post supports and horizontal timbers required to span the massive space.

The former stable block at the north-east end retains its first floor, but this was not accessible for inspection. On the ground floor, which was also latterly used as a cow byre, there is a C20 concrete floor* and feeding troughs* that are not of special interest. The south-east wall incorporates a series of original square-shaped shelf recesses and a later opening has been inserted into the north-east end wall and subsequently blocked up with breezeblock.

NORTH-EAST RANGE: the north-east range of lean-tos has a timber roof structure and mainly stone-sett floors. The lean-tos are separated internally by a mixture of brick and sandstone dividing walls (the brick walls are later insertions). On the north-east side the lean-to at the north-west end has a modern concrete floor* with slurry channels that is not of special interest. The adjacent later lean-to is divided into two by a brick dividing wall; the smaller north-east room has been partly converted into a toilet. The rear wall incorporates blocked-up window openings belonging to the slightly earlier lean-tos behind. The lean-tos on the south-west side of the range contain later brick troughs and have tethering rings attached to the walls. Towards the south-east end of the range is a washroom containing a substantial corner chimneybreast with a small cast-iron range below and an adjacent copper that were possibly adapted from a small forge. Two rooms at the south-east end of the range, which have been converted into a utility room and a snug for the farmhouse, are now accessed via a door on the north-east side of the range and also internally through the farmhouse.

FARMHOUSE: internally the rear range of the farmhouse has a slightly higher floor level than the front range, with a step up on both floors. 6-panel doors survive throughout the farmhouse, along with some moulded door and window architraves, some panelled shutters, and later dado rails. Some original/early built-in cupboards also survive, along with tall skirtings, and coving and moulded cornicing. Floors have largely been replaced on the ground floor, including the main entrance stair hall, central spine corridor separating the two ranges, and the rear stair hall which have modern tiled floors* that are not of special interest.

The main south-east entrance leads into a stair hall containing a dog-leg stair that rises up towards the front elevation of the house with a wreathed handrail, a bracketed open string, and stick balusters that are paired to each step. Off to the north-east side of the entrance hall is a lounge with an original fire surround. An arched alcove exists to the north-west wall with an adjacent blocked-up doorway now containing a cupboard. A room behind now contains modern bathroom fittings* that has a stone-flag floor* installed in the late C20 using flags brought in from around the farm complex; the modern bathroom fittings and flooring are not of special interest. A dining room off to the south-east side of the spine corridor has restored cornicing and an introduced fire surround. A room to the south corner of the front range retains its chimneybreast, but the fireplace has been removed. An external doorway has been inserted into the south-west wall, which leads out to the south-east range and converted garaging.

The rear range contains two large rooms to the ground floor separated by a central stair hall with a modern tiled floor. The rear stair is a late-C20 replacement that is not of special interest, and has been inserted in a different position to the original, leaving the original stone basement stair underneath exposed. A doorway off to the north-east side of the rear stair hall leads into a large room on the north-east side of the rear range, which has a chimneybreast with a modern gas fireplace insert* (the gas insert is not of special interest) and later double doors inserted into the south-east wall, which lead into the main entrance hall. A large room off to the south-west side of the rear stair hall contains a kitchen with modern units* and a modern tile flooring* that are not of special interest. A modern range cooker has been inserted into a substantial chimneybreast in the rear (north-west) wall, and the south-west wall has been knocked through to provide access into the early-C21 orangery, which is excluded from the listing. A modern doorway has been inserted into the north-east wall, which leads into two rooms in the north-east range that now form a utility room and snug.

The first floor mirrors the ground-floor plan with a large landing area that flows into the rear spine corridor separating the two ranges. A large bedroom to the front east corner has a fireplace brought in from elsewhere and two doorways to the NW wall leading into a closet and bathroom. Fireplaces have been removed from all the remaining bedrooms, but two of the bedrooms have C19 built-in cupboards and drawers. One of the former bedrooms in the rear range is now contians modern bathroom fittings* with a slate-tile floor* and modern wainscotting (the modern bathroom fittings and fixtures are not of special interest), and a large room at the south-west end has mid-C20 applied timbers to the ceiling and walls in mock-Tudor style. The basement, which is located underneath the north-east end of the rear range, has a brick vaulted ceiling and a stone-flag floor, and retains original stone shelving and a butchery table.

LABOURER'S COTTAGES: the floor plans of the two labourer's cottages mirror each other on the ground floor, with a through passage in the side projection accessing a scullery and pantry, and a doorway leading off into the main body of the cottages. Four-panel doors survive throughout the cottage interiors. Both pantries retain stone slab and brick shelving, and the scullery in the north-east cottage has a small cast-iron range and painted-stone fire surround to the canted north corner, a copper, and a ceramic butler's sink on stone blocks. The scullery in the south-west cottage has a mid-C20 tiled fireplace to the canted south corner and a butler's sink supported by later metal legs. Each scullery ceiling incorporates a small hatch leading up to a single attic room that was probably originally occupied by one or more farm workers; that to the south-west cottage has ladder access and contains a small cast-iron fireplace. The attic room of the north-east cottage was not inspected due to a lack of ladder access, but it is understood to be similarly detailed to that to the south-west cottage and also retains a fireplace. Each cottage has two main rooms to the ground floor, with the room at the north-west rear forming the kitchen. Both rooms to the north-east cottage have original built-in cupboards, with a cast-iron range to the rear room and a cast-iron fireplace with painted-stone surround to the front room. The rear room to the south-west cottage has original built-in cupboards and a replaced range and the front room has a mid-C20 tiled fireplace and altered cupboards. Each front room has a doorway leading to a stair accessing the first floor with an adjacent doorway with a plank and batten door accessing an under-stair cupboard. The north-east cottage retains its original first-floor layout with a large room to the front and two small rooms to the rear, one of which is accessed through the front room. The front room has a fireplace, whilst the other two rooms are unheated. The first-floor layout of the south-west cottage differs slightly as an indoor bathroom and short corridor have been inserted into one of the rear rooms.

* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 ('the Act') it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

History

The farmhouse and principal two-storey north-west range at Chevet Grange Farm are believed to have been constructed in the late C18/early C19, with the rest of the farm buildings added throughout the C19 in a series of developmental phases.

By 1841 a horse gin had been added on to the north-west range and a short single-storey and two-storey south-west range added, along with north-east lean-tos and a long single-storey south-east range adjacent to the farmhouse, forming a large courtyard plan. By 1854 the courtyard was subdivided into four sections.

The farm was included in The Times Commissioner, James Caird's report 'English Agriculture in 1850-51' published in 1852, which provided a national review and record of the state of agriculture at that time. The farm's arable practices are discussed in some detail in the report, along with praise for its modern practices.

In the second half of the C19 a single-storey range was constructed in the centre of the courtyard, an additional lean-to was added to the south-west range, and a semi-detached pair of labourer's cottages were constructed to the west of the farm buildings. Further alterations occurred in the late C19, C20 and early C21. The south-west range, horse gin and courtyard range were demolished in the late C20.

The farm is believed to have been originally associated with Chevet Hall, a Tudor country house built on the site of an earlier house and partly remodelled in the C18, which was located to the north-west of the farm. The hall was demolished in the 1960s, but its stables (now converted for residential use) and estate, including parkland and lake survive, part of which now forms Newmillerdam Country Park. The name 'grange' also raises the possibility of a historic monastic connection with the site, as medieval farms owned and operated by monasteries were called granges.

Reasons for Listing

Chevet Grange Farm, including the north-west and north-east courtyard ranges, farmhouse, and former labourers' cottages, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* the farm buildings' polite architectural detailing reflects a move away from more vernacular traditions, particularly in the styling of the farmhouse and the symmetrical threshing barn range with its flanking former stable blocks;

* the threshing barn range retains flat drive pulleys and openings for a drive shaft and machinery associated with a now-demolished horse gin, reflecting the importance of horsepower in early-C19 farming;

* despite some later alteration and losses, the majority of the buildings survive well and include a rare pair of labourers' cottages.

Historic interest:

* it is a good example of a late-C18/early-C19 planned farmstead with later phased development that was featured in James Caird's 1851 report on the state of agriculture in England;

External Links

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