Sharples Hall

Sharples Hall is a small mansion, built around 1870, and later extended in the late 20th century. It is now divided into flats. The exterior is of rusticated coursed and squared stone with ashlar bands, topped with a slate roof. The original main façade, facing west, has a three-window arrangement with a prominent central bay featuring a pediment. A single-storey porch, now disused, projects from this bay, with a round-arched doorway that has been converted into a window. Other windows have been renewed but set within original openings and feature moulded architraves. A round-arched window is centrally placed on the first floor, with another round-arched window in the attic. A heavy modillion eaves cornice creates the pediment over the gable. The eastern elevation mirrors the principal design, with a three-window range, a central pedimented gable, and a smaller single-window range to the right with a shallow pedimented gablet. A canted bay window is present in the main section, and tripartite windows are above. Similar windows are found in the right-hand bay. The south elevation features a wide, advanced gable to the right, showcasing a projecting tripartite window with a stressed entablature to the ground floor, and an upper window with a pedimented head that cuts into the roof line. A canted bay window is located to the left, with a pedimented tripartite window above. Axial and end wall stacks are present. The interior was not inspected. The hall was formerly the home of Sir John Holden, owner of Astley Bridge Mill on Blackburn Road.