Survey Data
Reg No
20912309
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Country house
In Use As
Country house
Date
1770 - 1810
Coordinates
144756, 45654
Date Recorded
01/09/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached five-bay two-storey over basement with dormer attic Georgian country house, built c.1790, having single-storey extension to rear (north), built c.1900. Hipped slate roof with central valley, having rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods on metal brackets. Recent rooflights and pitched dormer window to main block. Pitched slate roof to extension, with rendered eaves courses throughout. Rendered walls throughout having render quoins and limestone platband between basement and ground floors. Roughcast rendered wall to rear elevation of extension. Diminishing square-headed window openings with stone sills throughout. Block-and-start render surrounds with keystones to ground and first floors of front and side (east, west) elevations of main block. Nine-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to ground floor. Six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to first floor and to rear extension. Three-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to basement. Blocked window openings to rear and side (east, west) elevations. Round-headed stairwell window opening with stone sill to rear, having cast-iron sill-guard with wrought-iron spear finials and twelve-over-eight pane timber sliding sash window with round-headed Y-tracery fanlight to upper sash. Round-headed door opening approached via ashlar limestone perron to front elevation, having block-and-start surround containing timber doorcase. Doorcase comprising hollow chamfered reveals and archivolt, Composite order fluted colonettes on rectangular plinths surmounted by moulded cornice and timber framed spiders-web cast-iron fanlight. Timber panelled door with brass door knob and knocker, flanked by fixed timber framed geometric sidelights on timber panelled plinths. Torus moulded steps to perron on rubble stone quadrant arch spanning basement area, having cast and wrought-iron railings with spear finials. Square-headed door openings to rear elevation having timber panelled door, with flagged approached having wrought-iron railings spanning basement area. Square-headed door opening to side (west) elevation at basement level, having timber battened door surmounted by tri-partite overlight. Blocked door to rear elevation having recent fixed timber framed window in its place, approached by concrete deck platform and steps spanning basement area with cast-iron railings. Remains of cobble stone paving to basement area approached to north-west of house by flight of stone steps with rubble stone side wall and concrete coping. Rubble stone plinth with ashlar limestone coping surrounding main block protecting basement area. Associated farmyard complex to west. Located within own extensive grounds, enclosed by dressed rubble stone wall. Avenue leading to house from south-east having square-profile gate piers carrying replacement double-leaf wrought-iron vehicular gates flanked by cast and-wrought-iron pedestrian gates with spear finials.
Appraisal
Formerly the seat of the Beamish family, this country house is a fine and well-preserved example of Georgian architecture. It exhibits the classical proportions and fenestration typical of the period. Its relatively plain form is enlivened by window surrounds and a fine stone platband. It has also retained many original features including sash windows and cast-iron rainwater goods with fine scrolled brackets. Its front elevation is further enhanced by its finely-detailed classical doorcase with an ornate fanlight, sidelights and limestone perron.