Horrocks Fold Horrocks Fold Farmhouse

This is a 17th-century farmhouse, with an 18th-century addition to the rear (now No. 3 Horrocks Fold), and a more modern addition on the right side; it is currently divided into two dwellings. The original farmhouse is the most significant part of the building, consisting of two bays and three storeys, with the principal room on the first floor. It is constructed of coursed sandstone rubble with quoins, and has a stone slate roof with gable copings and kneelers, as well as a chimney at the left gable. The exterior features moulded bands which run over the heads of the windows on the ground and first floors. A modern, single-story, gabled porch, offset to the right of the centre, provides access on the south side. The ground floor has a large, two-light mullioned window to the left, and a smaller window to the right. The first floor contains two double-chamfered windows, each with three stepped lights. Oval windows set in square surrounds are located on the second floor. The left return wall has two windows on each floor; on the second floor, both windows are oval, while below those, they are varied: the left-hand windows each have three recessed lights with moulded surrounds, the first-floor window being ogee-headed. The right-hand windows each have two lights with chamfered surrounds, the first-floor window featuring round-headed lights with shallow moulding. A square, moulded panel is set into the band between the ground floor windows, likely intended to hold a datestone. A projecting porch on the rear of this side has large quoins, a moulded doorway with a large lintel, a band running around the whole structure, and a round-headed window at first floor level on the rear wall. The 18th-century addition to the rear is composed of coursed sandstone rubble, a slate roof, gable chimneys, and two windows on each floor of the west side. The ground floor window on the right is recessed, retaining two mullions and a hoodmould; the other windows have been altered. The east side wall of this addition has been brought forward. Inside, a large-framing timber partition wall extends to the full height of the house, culminating in a truss with a large tie-beam, curved struts, collar, and trenched purlins. A quarter-turn stone staircase, with an open string and turned balusters (now serving only the first floor), is present. The interior features narrow beams, some with roll moulding and others with small chamfer. The first floor parlour has moulded plaster decoration to the chimneypiece and to the panels of the partition wall, all in a foliated style. A decorated door leads to this room, featuring two full-height, round-headed panels with carved gryphons and surrounding grouped patterns. The house is believed to have been the birthplace of John Horrocks, the founder of the Preston cotton firm Horrocks Miller and Co., in the late 18th century. It is an unusual house type for the area and retains several good internal features.