Former Rectory, Now Parish Hall, Flats And Private House

The building is a former rectory, now used as a parish hall with flats above, and a private house. It was largely rebuilt in the 18th century, dated 1821, but incorporating elements of a 1697 rectory. According to inscriptions above the door, the first rectory was for Dr. William Hartwell and the second for Dr. Henry Hardinge; however, Hardinge reportedly died in 1820. The design is attributed to I. Bonomi. The building is constructed of painted rough render with an ashlar plinth, chamfered quoins, and stone dressings. It has a roof of graduated Lakeland slate.

Access to the flats is gained through an outbuilding projecting to the left and through a passage in the former service wing, now known as Bishop Butler’s House. This wing is constructed of thin courses of sandstone with a stone-flagged roof.

The main building is two storeys high and has seven bays, with the outer pairs projecting. The central double door has six panels and is set within a plain stone surround, with two coats-of-arms above and a raised inscribed panel below a drip mould. The windows are sash windows with fine glazing bars in plain stone surrounds, and there is a gutter cornice. The low-pitched hipped roof, with hips over the two-bay projections, has corniced ridge chimneys. The right return has a quoined central projecting bay with a six-panel door and overlight in a plain surround, and paired sash windows set on a sill string. The garden front features a central canted bay with three sashes under a cornice and blocking course.

The house in the right wing features an open-well dog-leg staircase, partially re-arranged in the lower part, with an original wreath and curtail. There is an elaborate fretwork panel in the low cupboard door beneath the stair, and a dado rail is present throughout the hall and staircase. The former study contains an inlaid marble chimney-piece in an Adam style, with delicate details, while the former library has a palmette-decorated marble chimney-piece and some original bookcases. One first-floor room features a chimney-piece made of Frosterley 'marble'. Interior decoration includes stucco ceiling roses in acanthus patterns, moulded cornices, and similar stucco ceiling decoration in the Parish Hall. The flats above have not been inspected.