Sheephouse Farmhouse And Attached Cottages And Stone Barn

Sheephouse Farmhouse, along with attached cottages and a stone barn, is a Grade II listed building located on Smithills Dean Road in Bolton. The farmhouse likely dates from the late 17th century or early 18th century, with an extension added to the rear in the early 19th century. The cottages are probably from the late 18th century, while the barn was built in 1862 and extended with shippons in 1901. The buildings are constructed from coursed and squared stone, featuring stone flagged and slate roofs.

The main part of the farmhouse, which faces south, is two storeys high and has a two-window range with a doorway to the right. There are two 3-light mullioned windows on each floor and an axial stack. The rear wing of the farmhouse was likely added in the early 19th century. The cottages are located at the rear of the farmhouse, each designed as a single unit with a double pile plan. They have a doorway to the left and a single window on each floor, all with plain stone lintels and a central stack.

The barn is built from rock-faced rubble and has a double ridged design, featuring wide segmentally arched entrances to the threshing floor, along with a datestone above the northern doorway. Inside the barn, the structure includes paired kingpost trusses supported by central cast-iron columns. This farm was part of the Ainsworth's Smithills Hall estate.