Farfield Hall

Farfield Hall is a country house dated 1722 or possibly 1729, built as a rebuild of an earlier 16th or 17th century house of which some evidence remains. Early 20th century additions include a music room and other extensions. The building is constructed of ashlar with a kitchen wing in hammer-dressed stone, stone slate and lead roof. It is two storeys with attics and cellars, arranged as a double-pile under two-span hipped roofs, and exemplifies the Yorkshire Baroque style.

The south front presents a seven-bay symmetrical façade with the three central bays projecting and articulated by fluted Corinthian pilasters rising to support a pediment. The base includes a plinth and rusticated quoin-strip and band, with an entablature and heavy modillioned eaves cornice. The parapet displays vermiculated rustication, possibly a later replacement of a balustrade. The central doorway features an architrave, consoles and entablature decorated with carved foliage, crowned by a broken segmental pediment with an open shell at the break. Bead-and-reel ornament decorates the fascia of the centrepiece, whilst the frieze is adorned with back-to-back sea-monsters. A dentil cornice decorated with egg-and-dart ornament supports an acanthus modillioned pediment, with an achievement of arms within a wreath in the tympanum. Sashed windows with architraves punctuate the façade. The cornice and parapet continue around the house with urns at each corner, and formerly at the peak and to each side of the single-storey central pediment, though those on the south front are missing. A 20th century two-bay single-storey addition to the left incorporates quoin strip, entablature, modillion cornice and parapet, with windows featuring architraves.

The rear elevation comprises three storeys with windows having raised plain stone surrounds and a stair-window with semicircular head, impost blocks and keystone.

The east front displays a five-bay symmetrical façade. The doorway is fitted with an eared architrave and triangular pediment, with a rectangular glazed fanlight above. Sashed windows with architraves light the main façade. To the right, a two-storey music wing includes two circular windows and a semicircular-arched doorway with rusticated voussoirs, followed by five bays of sashed windows with architraves. A band, cornice and parapet finish the composition.

Attached to the north-west angle of the main block is a contemporary kitchen block. This displays two bays of simple Venetian windows with raised surrounds, alternate raised quoins, and a heavily moulded eaves cornice. A coped gable with chimney stack crowns the composition. Two other stacks serve the main house, and one the music wing.

Interior features include extensive early 18th century panelling with pilasters and multi-panelled overmantels. The westernmost parlour retains original decoration comprising a bolection-moulded marble fireplace surround flanked by pairs of fluted composite pilasters, mirrored by pairs on every wall. A richly decorated cornice incorporates casement moulding, egg-and-dart, dentils and pulvinated frieze. The walls are completely panelled with raised panels and moulded rail, whilst the ceiling features a partitioned design with foliated surrounds to the panels. Other rooms and the stair-hall display predominantly 19th century decoration with Greek Key motifs predominant. The original stair is a fine example, featuring an open-well and cantilevered construction with three slender turned balusters to each tread: one plain turned baluster, one twisted baluster, and one twisted baluster of two strands, all supported by a moulded swept handrail with open string and slender newels. The original service-stair is separated from the main stair by a walled partition, featuring a closed string, fluted newels, moulded handrail and turned balusters, rising to the attic. The first floor retains much original panelling and two fireplaces with Delft tiles. The music room incorporates 20th century contemporary decoration featuring the Greek Key motif.

The attic of the kitchen wing reveals the house's earliest feature: an upper cruck-truss dating from the 16th century, with a king-post truss scarfed onto its top when the roof was altered in the early 18th century. The original bell from the roof, now housed in the cellar, bears a relief date inscription reading "MAKE NO DELAY AIR 1722 (or 9) COME AWAY".