Finchale Abbey Farmhouse

FRAMWELLGATE MOOR FINCHALE AVENUE NZ 24 NE (North side, off) 2/20 Finchale Abbey Farmhouse

GV II*

Finchale Priory (q.v.) building, now farmhouse and caravan site shop. Medieval with alterations including extensive rebuilding of first bay c.1700. Thinly- rendered large sandstone rubble, the first bay more regular and with eaves raised in larger stone blocks, with quoins and tooled ashlar dressings. Concrete-tiled roof with brick and stone chimneys. T-plan, the main range in line with north transept of church, and between that and river. 2 storeys, with ground level dropping steeply to left; 4 bays, the first higher. C20 flat-roofed porch in second bay to C19 double doors under C18 moulded cornice. Thin, flat tooled lintels and sills to all windows, vertical in first bay (the upper one larger) and smaller in other bays; all with C20 glazing. Roof very steeply pitched except over raised first bay. 3 ridge chimneys: rubble between first 2 bays, brick with ashlar band at right of second bay, and brick near right end. Left return has 2-storey canted bay, with large masonry on ground floor, the lowest courses probably medieval with plinth, sashes with glazing bars on first floor, dentilled cornice and high pent hipped roof. Right return had either buttresses or short section of wall continuing from front, removed by present owner; now blank. Rear wing, abutting part of second and third bays, has low shop door on inner return and varied windows; some large quoins between bays; other return obscured by C20 addition.

Interior: 2 right bays have roughly-chamfered beams and wide joists; fireplace on cross wall at left of third bay. Similar joists in rear wing. Wide T-plan stair at right of second bay has ramped grip handrail on boxed-in balustrade. At first floor centre 2 short flights of steps to left and right rear passages. Corbelled medieval fire-hood between third and fourth windows, with later cross wall abutting centre of fire; C19 fireplace on right end gable. First bay on first floor has early C18 panelling above dado rail; corniced chimney- piece with pulvinated frieze on cross wall at right. Crown-post and collar- purlin roof has wall posts and curved braces to 3 bowed beams visible below first-floor ceiling in 3 right bays. Roof space, only partly inspected, shows long down braces from square-section crown posts to tie beams, and longitudinal braces from posts to collar purlin; plastered gable, with doorway, between first and second bays. Collars to all rafters.

Thought by the editor of the 1837 source to have been a granary, but this is unlikely in the light of the first-floor fireplace. It may be associated with the mill thought to have been on the river bank to north of the house. Priory known locally as Finchale Abbey.

Source: Surtees Society Vol.VI, 1837: Finchale Priory.

Listing NGR: NZ2962447176