Middridge Grange Farmhouse

NZ 22 SW HEIGHINGTON SHILDON ROAD (East side, off) 2/58 Middridge Grange 6/6/52 Farmhouse (Formerly listed as Middridge Grange) GV II* Large farmhouse. Circa 1600 with alterations and additions of c.1690, c.1720, c.1850 and c.1897. Partly-rendered coursed sandstone rubble. Welsh slate and pantiled roofs, the latter with stone-flagged eaves. Rebuilt brick chimney stacks. U-plan with centre filled by c.1720 range; left cross-wing demolished c. 1850; rear additions c.1897. Now a double-range plan. Two-gabled entrance front 2 storeys plus attics: c.1720 2-bay left part and c.1600 wing at right. Quoins at ends and junction. Central partly-glazed 6-panel door in broken-pedimented stone doorcase with eared architrave and enriched consoles. Flanking 4-pane sashes; replaced casements above, centre window in narrow architrave; blocked 2-light mullioned windows in both attics. Coped gables and shaped kneelers; off-centre roof valley to right; end stacks. 4-bay right return has flush quoins. Blocked and altered openings: original door and window jambs and fragment of hoodmould visible. Left half has late C17 cross windows under dripmoulds. Replaced windows in flush surrounds at right. Steeply-pitched roof, pantiled at left with slightly-swept flagged eaves; Welsh slates to right. End stacks. Truncated external end chimney. Mutilated left return, originally inner wall of demolished wing, has splayed first-floor window opening. Steeply-pitched pantiled roof. 2-storey, 2-bay c.1897 rear outshut. Interior: right wing contains 3 rooms with c.1720 features, including one with panelling, doors and window shutters and top entablature with pulvinated frieze. (Blocked chamfered stone doorway behind panelling). 2 upstairs rooms have similar panelling and bolection-moulded wood chimney-pieces with corniced mantels. Late C19 left rear addition is not of special interest. Historical note: The home of Colonel Anthony Byerley (died 1667) who garrisoned the house and commanded a regiment known as "Byerley's Bulldogs" in the service of Charles I during the Civil War. The farm was the home of the first Arab horse (The Byerley Turk) in Britain; from this horse and 2 others all British racing bloodstock is descended. Derelict at time of survey.

Listing NGR: NZ2447024631