Machpelah House

Machpelah House is a private residence dating to circa 1842. It is constructed of dressed coursed millstone grit in diminishing courses, with a stone slate roof. The building is situated on a ground slope, where the rear (east) elevation rises steeply, resulting in the ground floor being at first-floor level to the front (west). Originally, the ground floor/basement served as a coach house, with the main living quarters situated on the first floor and bedrooms on the second floor. Ridge chimney stack at each gable end, the northern one displaying the date 1842.

The front (west) elevation features an entrance originally designated for a coach house, now a half-glazed door, and windows to the right of the ground floor. The central entrance, accessible via a flight of stone steps forming a bridge, is surrounded by a simple Gibbs surround. The half-glazed door is topped by a rectangular overlight featuring stained glass depicting a viaduct. Six-over-six horned vertical sash windows with stone lintels and cills are arranged in pairs on both the first and second floors, flanking the central entrance. The rear (east) elevation has a side entrance and a variety of windows, with two central windows featuring stained glass in the margin lights. The right (south) side elevation has matching windows on the first and second floors, mirroring those at the front.

Internally, the front door opens into a stone-flagged hall, with a cut string staircase on the right featuring a wooden handrail and wavy wooden balusters. Windows with stained glass margins are located at the rear on both the first and second floors. To the right is a reception room containing plasterwork ceiling and coving, original shutters and skirting, a Victorian fire grate (potentially later), and a later fire surround and hearth. The reception room to the left is simpler, still retaining shutters and an original fireplace with tiling. A smaller room is found to the rear left, and a passage to the back door is to the rear right. Stairs lead down to the former coach house, now utilized as a kitchen. A stone-lined arched passage extends from beside the staircase to the rear. The second floor comprises two front bedrooms, with a bathroom and en-suite bathroom behind. The main bedroom on the right includes shutters and a fireplace with a white marble surround.