Manor House

The Manor House is a house dating from the late 16th century, situated in Dark Lane, Lower Rawtenstall. It was originally an open-hall house, with a floor inserted later and an additional cell added in the early 18th century. The construction is of large dressed stone, topped with a stone slate roof.

The south front exhibits large projecting stones which may have served as a plinth for an earlier timber-framed house. A 19th-century doorway is centrally positioned with a tie-stone jamb to the left. It is flanked by altered double-chamfered mullioned and transomed windows of 6 lights, one of which has an eaves dormer dating from approximately 1980. A cavetto moulded string course runs to the adjacent window, a double-chamfered, stepped mullioned and transomed window of 3 over 4 lights, featuring cavetto mullions and remnants of a hood mould with straight returns. Beneath this window is an inserted cellar, accessed by external steps. An additional window, inserted around 1980 and topped with an eaves dormer, has also been incorporated. The remaining gable displays a coped detail and kneeler at the junction with the 18th-century cell, which has a doorway with a heavy lintel and single lights to each floor. The left-hand return wall features a small cavetto chamfered window to the ground floor and two windows to the first floor, with a 3-light window positioned between them. The roof has been raised to the rear section. The rear elevation is largely of large dressed stone, though to the right, the stonework has been disturbed, revealing a wooden wall plate. The right-hand return wall features a coped gable. Two stacks are situated along the ridge.

The interior contains a fine king post roof truss with queen struts and stop-chamfered king post tie beam, which has a groove to its soffit, along with purlins. The building is of considerable importance, although it has suffered some disfigurement over time.