Peel House, With Outbuilding

NU 10 NE SHILBOTTLE MIDDLE ROAD (North side)

9/226 Peel House, with 10.1.53 outbuilding (formerly listed as Vicarage) GV II

Former Vicarage, with attached outbuildings. Tower probably C15, heightened 1863; main part of house, and outbuildings, C18 remodelling of possible medieval fabric, altered and extended 1863 by F.R. Wilson, for Rev. J.B. Roberts; altered c.1970. large squared stone; outbuilding rubble; rear wing snecked stone; cut dressings. Welsh slate roofs except for low-pitched lead roof to tower.

South elevation in 3 sections. At right end is 3-storey tower. Rough plinth; wall battered up to 2nd floor level. Enlarged chamfered loop on ground floor; C19 first-floor window of 2 pointed lights; traces of blocked window to left. Chamfered set-back above marks top of medieval masonry. 2nd-floor window of 2 trefoil-headed lights; embattled parapet. Taller corbelled-out turret at left corner. Adjoining 2-storey 3-bay part has shallow porch on right with boarded door under chamfered pointed arch; pent slab roof with small centre gable with monogram on shield and cross finial. Plain sash windows, the central set in former chamfered doorway; stone with JBR monogram above left ground-floor window. Left single-storey section in 2 parts; 2-bay right part reduced to 1 storey c.1970, shows 4-pane sash and small boarded window; 2-bay left outbuilding has boarded double doors under timber lintel, with narrower but similar door to left under raking loft dormer; coped left end gable; small stepped stack on ridge.

Right return, to churchyard: Left tower with 1st-floor window of 2 trefoil- headed lights above panel with Latin inscription referring to Rev. Roberts and F.R. Wilson, and rhyme (from Melrose Abbey): Earth builds on the earth Castles and Towers To earth saith the earth All shall be ours. Square-headed window on 2nd floor 2-storey 1-bay rear wing on right has 3- light windows under dormer gable.

Rear elevation: Various casement windows in older openings. Gable end of rear wing, on left, has windows of 2 trefoil-headed lights.

Interior: Basement of tower has chamfered 4-centred doorway and slightly- pointed barrel vault; splayed loop on north now opens into wing. Wall lockers in end walls. Remains of newel stair or well shaft in cupboard at north-west corner of tower. 0.7-metre thick walls, with distinct batter, define former hall block, enlarged to rear in C18. Panelled doors and shutters with beaded mouldings. 1st-floor room in tower has C18 moulded stone fireplace with later wrought-iron and tiled grate, flanked by doorways with arched panels above; cornice. C19 stair with stick balusters, moulded ramped handrail and moulded newels.

Listing NGR: NU1954208707