Perimeter Wall With Gateway And Attached Outbuildings And Chimney To West And South Of Cranford Hall

The structure comprises a perimeter wall with a gateway, attached outbuildings, and a chimney, situated to the west and south of Cranford Hall. It dates back to the 15th century, with later phases of construction and remodelling occurring in the late 19th or early 20th century. The wall is primarily constructed of rough-ashlar sandstone, while the stable block incorporates timber framing, brick infill, and a stone slate roof.

The wall encloses three sides of the garden and forecourt. A gateway is located on the south side, and a two-storey stable block is built onto the west side; a massive chimney stack connects to the north wall of Cranford Hall. The gateway features a depressed, 4-centred arch with a hoodmould, flanked by buttresses adorned with escutcheons of Bosvile and Cresacre, surmounted by 17th-century ball finials. The wall gradually slopes down to each side, transitioning into a low retaining wall with a chamfered plinth, offset band, and stone coping. It continues to the left of the gateway, with a gap, to join the stable block.

The stable block’s outer walls show various construction phases, including an exposed offset band. Rectangular loops are visible beneath a dripmould, now cut into by a 19th-century three-light mullioned window. A section of the first floor is brick, partly rendered, featuring a timber wall post and an external stack on three corbels, now truncated at the eaves. Another inserted three-light window is found on the first floor to the left. The north wall features a massive, offset chimney stack with an infilled fireplace opening, exhibiting roll-moulded jambs and a damaged lintel with a raised panel. A triangular relieving arch and a round-arched hoodmould with decayed heraldic stops and a central boss are also present. Wall remains to the west include fragmentary remains of a second external stack and a corbelled stack at ground level. A blocked, chamfered two-light mullioned window and a similar single-light window are located to the right.

Inside the stable block, the first floor retains three jowled wall posts built into the perimeter wall, with wall plate showing peg holes for infill. Three early king-post trusses remain, two with short curved braces to cambered tie beams, and one featuring a straight tie-beam with peg holes for infill and a remaining chevron strut parallel to the principal rafter. Trenched purlins and straight braces from the king-posts to the square-set ridge are also present. The history and details of the site are documented in "New Hall, Darfield" by J. Birch and P. F. Ryder, published in the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, volume 154, 1982, pages 81-98.