Lower Lench Farmhouse

SD 82 SW RAWTENSTALL ROUGHLEE Cowpe

6/228 Lower Lench Farmhouse - - II

Farmhouse, late medieval or early C16, much altered (probably in C18), now farmhouse and outbuilding. Sandstone rubble with quoins, house whitewashed, tiled roof to house otherwise stone slate. Long range of building, possibly originally 5 bays or more, the house now occupying only the first 2 bays. Two storeys: at junction of 1st and 2nd bays a wide single-storey gabled porch used as dairy, to the right of this a 3-light double-chamfered stone mullion window (lacking one mullion); to the left covered by outbuilding, an altered window; and at 1st floor 2 stepped triple-light windows (some lights with glazing bars) with some evidence of other lights blocked. External features of continuation of the building to the right are of less interest than the base of one cruck blade visible in the dividing wall abutting the front wall, and a window in the rear wall which has 3 round-headed lights with hollow spandrels, and in the bay or bays at the right end, beams and joists all with tongue-stopped chamfer. In centre of rear wall under an outbuilding is a Tudor-arched doorway with a broad chamfered surround; and beneath the 2nd bay of building is a cellar with semi-circular vaulted roof. History: said to have been resting house, possibly for monks, on old road from Rochdale to Colne (now visible only as winding grassy track to the east side of the building).

Listing NGR: SD8306221531