Wharncliffe Lodge

The property is a lodge, largely dating to the 18th century, but built on an earlier site, with alterations in the 19th century. It is constructed of coursed, squared sandstone with a stone slate roof. The lodge is two storeys high with a half-basement that was originally lit from the rear. The left side of the building consists of six regular bays, while the right side incorporates earlier fabric beneath a rebuilt upper storey, all beneath a common roof. A short, hipped-roof wing extends to the rear left, with a small outshut attached. Panelled doors are located in bays two and five, set within bonded ashlar surrounds, and are flanked by two-light windows. Similar two-light windows are present in all six bays on the first floor. Most ground floor windows have square-faced surrounds with iron casements, but the windows in bay four on the ground floor and bay five on the first floor have chamfered lights. The right side of the building incorporates a blocked quoined doorway, flanked by double-chamfered single lights. On the first floor, there is a blocked window to the left of two 19th-century chamfered two-light windows. Moulded kneelers and gable copings with a finial base at the right apex are visible. There are three 19th-century stacks, each shouldered, quoined, and with chamfered copings; one towards the left end, and the others along the ridge. On the right return, a 19th-century five-light, double-chamfered mullion window is situated on the first floor. Internally, the doorway in the left bay opens into a large room now open to the roof, featuring a bressumer beam to the left with a full-height brick firehood. A room at the right end of the first floor has a heavily carved 19th-century chimney piece and some Jacobean-style panelling. Within the floor of the outshut to the right of the rear wing is a rough gritstone block with a weathered inscription. A transcription from the Wharncliffe Estate Office at Wortley suggests it was built in 1510 by Thomas Wortley, Knight to the Kings Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry VIII, to enjoy the views. The lodge was formerly associated with Lady Mary Wortley-Montague in the early 18th century and commands a view referenced in her writings. The site contains remnants of what was previously the domestic part of Wharncliffe Hall, which was built in the 16th century and is now largely demolished.