Barrowdene House

Barrowdene House is a village institute dating to 1846. Originally built as an institute and library, it has subsequently been used as a laundry and is now subdivided into dwellings. Constructed in ashlar, the building has an eleven-window front arranged as two bays, a central seven-window section, and two bays on either side. Shallow, pedimented wings project from the centre of each return, originally serving as entrances. The first floor is the principal storey, featuring tall round-arched windows, and rectangular windows below (some now enlarged as doorways). All windows are set within moulded stone architraves. The building has a moulded stone cornice and pedimented gables, with the upper gable being embattled. The educational institute and library was built by Thomas Bazley for the model village of Barrow Bridge, which was established around 1830 to house workers at the nearby Dean mills. The village provided housing for approximately 300 workers, along with a canteen, bakery, baths, and a co-operative shop. The interior of the building has not been inspected.