Highfields

Highfields is a small country house of exceptional architectural importance, representing a complex and layered building history spanning nearly three centuries.

The original structure dates to 1615 and was built for the Dodds family. It underwent significant enlargement and remodelling in 1750 by William Baker and again in 1897. The building is timber-framed on an ashlar plinth with rendered infill and a plain tiled roof, rising to two storeys with an attic.

The entrance front presents a carefully composed elevation. Five bays are symmetrically disposed with projecting gabled wings to either side. Both floors feature close-studded walling with a middle rail. The first floor is jettied, as are the gables of the two lateral wings. Above the three recessed central bays sits a wide gable, probably added in 1750. Almost all windows are of 19th-century date and have ovolo-moulded projecting surrounds. The central gabled porch to the ground floor is of 19th-century date, featuring a four-centred arch with a lintel inscribed "WD 1615". Cusped panels flank the porch opening, with quatrefoils above. Two-light 19th-century windows occupy either side of the porch, and three similar windows appear at first-floor level, with a three-light window to the centre of the 18th-century gable. The lateral wings have four-light windows to the ground floor and three-light windows to the first floor and attic. The left side of the right gable retains a three-light 17th-century mullioned window at first-floor level.

To the left of the entrance front, slightly recessed, stands a wing of 1897 with similar close studding and a middle rail. A doorway at right is flanked by single-light windows, with further single-light windows to the left. A slightly projecting wing beyond contains a four-light ground floor window and a three-light first-floor window with another three-light window to the attic.

The right side of the original house is dominated by massive brick chimney breasts with stacks of 19th-century Rhuabon brick, the left one largely masked by the 1897 addition. The projecting chimney breast is positioned left of centre, with blank close-studded walling and a jettied first floor featuring an ovolo-moulded bressumer. To the right of the firebreast, projecting flush with it, stands a small gabled wing added in 1750 by William Baker. This has close studding with a middle rail, a three-light ground floor window, and a canted oriel window to the first floor with richly moulded underside. Further right, close-studded walling with middle rails contains one 17th-century three-light ground floor window with ovolo-moulded mullions at left.

The rear elevation features a large central projecting wing of 1750 by William Baker. A 19th-century canted bay window to the ground floor has three central lights and two lights at each angle, with coving above. The first-floor window above contains four lights. Gabled wings flank this central section: the left wing has a two-light ground floor window, a four-light first-floor window, and a two-light casement to the attic; the right wing has a single-light ground floor window with four-light first-floor and two-light attic windows. The 1897 addition at right features a prominent projecting gabled wing with French windows and a two-light ground floor window, three-light casements to the first floor, and three-light casements to the attic.

The interior preserves exceptional 17th-century woodwork and fittings. The entrance hall displays 19th-century dado panelling and a fireplace of 18th or 19th-century date incorporating 17th-century panelling brought from elsewhere. The room to the right is fully panelled, predominantly of 19th-century date but including some 17th-century run-through panelling. The fireplace surround is of oak with terms to either side bearing long hair and moustaches. The lintel projects a keystone with a grotesque mask in high relief. The initials "WD" flank the date 1615, positioned in rectangular frames to either side. The overmantel contains three niches flanked by miniature Corinthian columns on diamond rusticated plinths, with figures of crossed arms and panels of strapwork with cherub heads between them. The ceiling features ovolo-moulded and stopped beams.

Two staircases of late 17th-century form serve the house. The staircase to the right of the entrance hall has double entwined spiral balusters with square newel posts and a moulded balustrade. The staircase to the left was originally composed of two open-string flights set at right angles, now converted to two close-string flights with a half-landing and a quarter turn. It retains barley sugar twist balusters with newels formed of four such balusters, a moulded and ramped handrail with square caps, and a cut string.

The old kitchen contains an ingle nook fireplace with 19th-century panelling and a 19th-century painted ashlar fireplace with a projecting hood decorated with bands of fishscale ornament and supported on large carved volutes. The drawing room, dated 1760, incorporates a fireplace and overmantel inscribed "16 JOHN 74 GWYNN" brought from elsewhere. Upstairs rooms have ovolo-moulded ceiling beams and a 17th-century fireplace also brought from elsewhere. A 19th-century pine chimneypiece commemorating a visit of the Duke of Wellington to the vicarage at Audlem was brought to Highfields in the 20th century.