Survey Data
Reg No
30404706
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Original Use
Farmyard complex
In Use As
Farmyard complex
Date
1775 - 1785
Coordinates
176282, 245651
Date Recorded
10/12/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Complex of farm buildings to Castle ffrench country house, built c.1780, comprising cobbled courtyard formed by country house to east, buildings to west and south, and remains of outbuilding to north. Elliptical arch gateways at south-east and north-east, having slightly projecting keystones and wrought-iron vehicular gates. West building comprises two-storey block having six-bay first floor and eight-bay ground floor, with single-storey catslide addition to rear. Slate roof, half-hipped to south end and with bellcote to pitched north end. Roughly dressed limestone walls to front block having tie plates, and rubble walls to rear block. Depressed arch vehicular entrances to middle of front façade, Venetian-style doorways towards ends with spoked fanlights, flanked by square-headed narrower door openings, with dressed stone surrounds, and having timber battened doors. Inner narrow openings converted to windows. Square-headed windows to first floor having dressed stone jambs and nine-pane timber windows. Further single-storey building attached to north-east corner of main block, having pitched slate roof and rubble stone walls. Building at south is three-bay two-storey with external stairs at east end approached by stone doorcase having panelled shouldered and kneed surround. Half-hipped slate roof with recent chimneystack to east end, rubble limestone walls and square-headed openings, door to middle of ground floor, with dressed stone surrounds , recent timber door and recent window frames. Small yard to west bounded by low rubble limestone wall with wrought-iron pedestrian gate. Further single-storey building at right angles to rear, having slate roof and rubble stone walls.
Appraisal
This group of stone outbuildings, adjacent to Castle ffrench, enhances the setting of the important country house. The quality of stonework, the symmetrically placed openings and two-storey size, all reflect the quality of the house.