Churton Lodge

Churton Lodge is a house dating from the mid-19th century, with a central front portion, hall, and stair added in 1893. It is attributed to T.M. Lockwood, and demonstrates a style influenced by 17th-century Flemish architecture. The house is constructed of grey sandstone ashlar with grey slate roofs. The front is symmetrical. The central portion of three storeys has canted corners with three windows to the front and one to each oblique face. Flanking this are recessed two-storey wings, each containing a wide two-storey canted bay window. The central portion features three shaped gables with moulded cornices, while the wings have panelled parapets. A moulded plinth is present. A projecting porch has a panelled oak door within a round-arched opening, which is decorated with a carved frieze and a broken curved pediment containing a cartouche, all supported on composite pilasters. Round-arched leaded windows are located on either side of the porch. Sashes, from which leading or bars have been removed, are visible on the lower two storeys to the left of the porch; a cross-casement, also stripped of leading or bars, is on the upper storey. Unequal sashes, likely with leading and bars removed, are in the bay windows of the wings. Moulded bands run at the first and second floors. An ornate datestone is carved into the central gable, and carved panels are in the side gables. Connecting the front gables to the Italianate rear wing is a transverse roof with coped gables and simple finials reminiscent of the 17th century. The rear wing itself is relatively plain. Inside, a grand open-well staircase of oak features heraldic lions on the newels and individually carved details on the balusters. There is a panelled oak door, oak fireplace and overmantel, and a panelled ceiling in the hall. The dining room on the left features a fine Jacobean panelled plaster ceiling and a basket-arched recess at the rear. The drawing room on the right boasts a good ornate plaster cornice, a rose, and a fine carved marble fireplace and mantel, all likely dating from the mid-19th century.