Ashlands

Ashlands is a large house built in 1863 for Samuel Ashworth Lord, located in Newchurch, Rawtenstall. The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar with a low-pitched slate roof and features four chimney stacks. It has an L-shaped layout, consisting of a rectangular main block with a service wing attached at the rear left corner. The house has a basement and two storeys, designed in the Renaissance style.

The south entrance front has three bays, with the third bay projecting and featuring an open-pedimented gable. There is a square single-storey porch at the angle, which has panelled pilasters and a round-headed arch with a keystone. To the left of the porch is one window, and above it are two more windows. Most of the windows are segmental-headed and sashed, with shouldered architraves and prominent moulded sills. The window to the left of the porch has a cornice with figured consoles depicting the daughters of Samuel Lord. The ground floor of the gabled bay to the right has a chamfered rectangular bay with five tall round-headed windows. Above this bay is a window with a segmental pediment and carved consoles, along with carving on the window head that includes the head of Samuel Lord. The re-entrant wall and service wing to the left have simpler openings, while the right return wall facing the garden has four windows on each floor, with the ground floor windows featuring moulded cornices and carved consoles.

At the rear, the plinth incorporates a datestone inscribed with "S A L 1863." The stairlight is treated as an oriel with three lights rounded at both ends and two circular lights. Inside, there is an open well stone staircase with a half-landing and ornamental iron balusters. The hallway, stairwell, and landing all have elaborate moulded plaster friezes, cornices, and beams. The drawing room and dining room feature foliated pattern moulded plaster friezes, with the drawing room also having ceiling medallions that contain paintings. The plaster work is said to have been done by Italian craftsmen who were otherwise engaged in decorating theatres in Manchester. Samuel Ashworth Lord was a cotton manufacturer and merchant associated with Gog Hills Mills.