Lower Breck Farmhouse The Breck

House, now house and farmhouse. Built in the 17th century, early 18th century, and mid-19th century. The building is constructed in large blocks of coursed squared stone with a stone slate roof.

The main structure consists of a pair of parallel 17th-century ranges that were refronted in the 18th century. The left range was brought forward, and an 18th-century bay was added on the right, set forward from the main line. A 19th-century block was subsequently added to the rear of this 18th-century bay.

The front elevation comprises a central single-storey two-bay block with a two-storey gabled wing on the right and another, projecting further, on the left. The central block has a chamfered plinth. A tall two-light flat-faced mullion window with 24-pane sashes and glazing bars sits under a dripmould with a floral decorated stop. To its right is a six-panel door in a quoined, moulded surround with a lintel dated 'T 1712 I M' and a window set over the lintel. The block terminates in a parapet with moulded coping and a ridge stack. Above the ridge to the left is the gable of the 17th-century range.

The left wing features a three-light window to each floor, the first-floor window having sashes with glazing bars, and a stack to the left side. The right wing has quoins, a three-light window to each floor, and a stack to the right side.

The rear elevation shows two 17th-century gabled bays on the right with quoins to the left. On the left of the right bay is a six-panel door in a plain stone surround under a hollow-moulded string with a decorative stop. Double-chamfered mullion windows appear over the door (two lights, now blocked) in the left bay of eight lights, now four lights, with a six-over-eight-light window with a king mullion above. The left bay has hollow-moulded hoodmoulds with decorative stops and a shaped kneeler to the left, with chamfered coping bridging the valley.

The left return of the left bay has a three-light double-chamfered mullion window and a former two-light window above containing a 20-pane sash with glazing bars. A two-bay 19th-century block set back on the left features watershot stone and quoins to lower courses on the left. A six-panel door on the right bears a reused basket-arched lintel inscribed 'RT 1658'. Two 16-pane sashes appear to each floor with plain stone surrounds and projecting cills.

The right return of the 19th-century block has a blocked central door flanked by two windows, as at the rear, on each floor, with plain gutter brackets. The left return presents the most unified façade, dating from the 18th century. It consists of five bays with a central bay breaking forward under a corniced pediment. A plinth runs along the base. The central door is half-glazed with a cornice above. Windows have plain stone surrounds; some retain sashes with glazing bars, while others have been replaced in the 20th century.

Interior

The central 17th-century range contains notable features. At the rear on the ground floor is a large segmental-arched cyma-moulded quoined fireplace with a timber lintel above and stop-chamfered cross-beams. The first floor features a cyma-moulded fireplace with a deep lintel and an early 19th-century grate, and a king post roof truss with a chamfered tie-beam, V-struts, and trenched purlins.

The 18th-century part contains a fine stair with iron balusters alternately waved and with decorative panels continuing across the landing, and a ramped handrail. Ground-floor rooms feature marble fireplaces.

Historical Context

The building is reputed to have been a Dower House to Field House, Dean Land. Archbishop Tillotson's father moved here after leaving Haugh End, Haugh End Lane. The initials over the door are reputed to refer to his great-nephew, Joshua Tillotson, and his wife Martha Kendall.