Lane Ends House

MAWDESLEY SMITHY LANE SD 41 SE 12/167 Lane Ends House 17.4.67 - II*

House. Early C18, with wing of earlier C17. High stone plinth with chamfered coping, handmade brick, stone slate roof hipped at left end over front bay of earlier part. Double-depth 2-bay plan added to side of earlier part, which forms a receding left wing. Two and a half storeys, symmetrical (except for wing); 2-course 1st floor band, 3-course 2nd floor band; central door with 6 fielded panels, the topmost shouldered; 2 segmental-headed windows on each floor, all with wooden transoms and mullions making 6 lights, the lower in the centre a sliding sash, and all with leaded glazing making 54 panes; breaking the eaves, 2 inserted windows under hipped dormers; chimneys at right gable and at left junction. To the left the gable end of the wing (which appears here as a lean-to) is marked by stone quoins, has 2 segmental-headed stairlights and one similar window on each floor, all these with glazing like that in the main facade, and a small lean-to addition to the return wall. Rear: large modern 2-storey addition to 1st bay; in 2nd bay a segmental-headed 36-pane sash at ground floor and a segmental-headed cross window with sliding sash and glazing like that at front; 2 dormers in eaves. Interior (inspected only in part): rear bay of wing has a large beam with stopped 1/4-round moulding; attic is Roman Catholic chapel open to the roof, containing large kingpost roof truss, access to this part being by staircase at junction with wing; doglegged staircase, with closed string and slim turned balusters. History: associated with local old Catholic family of Finch since at least the late C17, and still in their possession; used for mass since C17. Reference: A. Hewitson ("Atticus") Our Country Churches and Chapels, (Preston, 1872), p.239. Note on windows: very rare survival of contemporary glazing.

Listing NGR: SD4878114876