History

Early-mid C17 Renaissance-style gate-house to a mansion which was probably never built. It was owned by a powerful local gentry family, the Glynn family, and remained in their hands until the early C20. The staircase, in its own projection, is said to be C18. The gate-passage was wide enough for a horse or carriage, but its rear was blocked by a pantry and scullery before or during the C19. The house was half-timbered originally, the walls mainly rebuilt in stone later: In the late C19, weather-boarding over half-timbering was partly extant at 1st floor level; some half-timbering is said to survive to the rear. A photograph of c1888 shows the house much as now, but with small-pane casements or cross-windows, the central arch infilled with masonry and a door. The front was lime-plastered, including the large gabled dormers; this was removed in the mid-late C20. A narrow unit to the L of the main range was added c1900, but was demolished by the early C21.

Exterior

A large 3-window range of 2 storeys with attics, constructed of random stone on a high stone plinth under a slate roof with stone end stacks; large quoins to R end. Wide central entrance to former gate-passage with round-arched head of stone voussoirs and continuous chamfer. This is infilled with a late C20 boarded door flanked by side lights with margin glazing; fan-light under the arch. The house has late C20 wooden windows with opening casements; those to the ground floor have lintels of stone blocks and may have been enlarged. Three-light windows flanking archway and 2-light window to upper storey to L. To the attic are 3 large gabled dormers constructed of box panelling; slightly jettied gables supported on brackets with diagonal struts; plain barge boards, slate-hung sides. Each dormer contains a 2-light window as elsewhere. The E gable end has single-light windows flanking the chimney breast. Below is a full-length lean-to stone porch; inside is a half-glazed door to L. No openings to W gable end.

Adjoining the rear SE angle of the house is a kitchen block; the front elevation is box-panelled, but was formerly lime-washed, and contains a 2-light casement to each storey. Stone gable end with cross-window to each storey. To the rear is a lateral stone stack and a large stone lean-to porch, probably late C20, with split doors to L-hand return. The N elevation of the kitchen is close-studded, but in the angle with the main range is a tall gabled staircase projection, which was added later. It is box-panelled and slightly jettied to each storey. Steps lead down to a doorway, with a 2-light window to mid-level and a wide window with stained glass to the attic. Added to the rear of the main range is a further block, partly of red brick and containing a window with flat-arched head of gauged brickwork. This is probably late C18 and may date the blocking of the gate-passage. This rear block was much altered and refenestrated in the mid-C20 and has 2 large gables clad in corrugated iron and metal-framed windows. Large and small lean-tos to ground floor, flanking the area of brickwork.

Interior

The gate-passage, now used as a dining room, is blocked to the rear but retains a fine timber-framed archway. Good close-studding to the side walls. Ceiling with 3 stop-chamfered cross-beams supported on brackets. Reception rooms to L and R of gate-passage not seen. Behind the L room is a passage, off which is the fine open-well oak staircase with moulded balusters and handrail and very wide treads. The kitchen unit has 2 deeply chamfered cross-beams. Detail includes good oak floors and doors. The upper storey is said to include C17 wainscot panelling.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a rare survival of this C17 building type, and unusual in that this gate-house became the main dwelling. Despite some recent alteration, the building retains good C17 and C18 detail.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29486570

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)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)