Brainshaugh

House. Built in the late 16th or early 17th century, with significant alterations in the second quarter of the 18th century (C18) and again in 1805 for Thomas Cook. The house is constructed of squared stone, of a near-ashlar quality in the 1805 sections, although the east elevation is rubble and the east part of the north elevation is of roughly-squared stone. Dressings are cut stone. The main block has a Lakeland slate roof, while the kitchen wing has pantiles, except for asbestos sheets on its east end. Stacks have been rebuilt in brick on old bases.

Originally an L-plan, the main block was enlarged to a square in 1805; a kitchen wing extends to the south-east. The south front consists of two storeys and five bays, arranged symmetrically. A central, formerly half-glazed door is surrounded by a bolection moulding. There are 12-pane sash windows, some renewed, set within architraves, and a hipped roof. The plain rear elevation of the single-storey kitchen wing is visible to the right. The west front, with three bays, features a central trompe l'oeil doorway of six fielded panels, beneath a 12-pane sash with a projecting sill. The door frame is inscribed with “T 1805 C” on downpipes with fluted rainwater heads. Flanking bay windows rise the full height of the building with sill bands and pyramidal roofs; all feature 12-pane sashes. The main hipped roof has a central ridge stack. The east elevation still displays several C16/17 windows of one or two lights, some of which have been enlarged to accommodate 4-pane sashes. Similar windows are found in the left part of the north elevation. The right part, slightly set forward, is a 1805 extension with a Gothic-arched stair window, a 12-pane sash with intersecting tracery in a raised surround with imposts and keystone. To the left and set back is the kitchen wing, demonstrating a blocked chamfered doorway and an 8-pane sash window. The slightly taller right part features a stepped-and-banded brick ridge stack and a left gable with raised, reverse-stepped coping.

The interior largely dates to 1805 and includes a dog-leg staircase with stick balusters, moulded newels, shaped tread ends and a curtail step. There are modillion cornices to the stair and entrance hall. The drawing room retains a contemporary dado rail, cornice, and fireplace. Internal doors are of six fielded panels, accompanied by panelled shutters.