Healey House

Healey House is a large detached residence, now divided, dating from the late 18th century. It was originally built for the Beaumont family but was tenanted by the Brook family until they purchased it around 1820. Wings were added to each side around 1850, likely for Charles Brook (Senior). The house is constructed of hammer-dressed stone with ashlar dressings, and has a stone slate roof with broad ashlar stacks to each gable. It is a symmetrical two-story building with a pedimented central three-bay entrance front. A round arched doorway is centrally positioned, featuring a fanlight with radial glazing bars and Doric engaged columns supporting a dentilled entablature. Above the doorway is a first-floor window framed by a blind balustrade with turned balusters and a surround with chambrans and a small cornice. Sash windows with glazing bars flank the central bays on both floors. The two-story wings to either side have Venetian windows to each floor, the upper floor windows having cambered heads.

The garden front features a three-bay central part with a dentilled cornice and blocking course. A central doorway has a rectangular fanlight and dentilled cornice, with slender flanking lights. Above, a large Venetian window with glazing bars sits within a round arched recess, having moulded surrounds and small transoms to the side lights. Two-story bows with three-light sash windows with glazing bars are located on either side of the central part. The 2-story wings on this elevation also feature Venetian windows. A balustraded parapet tops the garden front and circa 1850 single-story wings extend to each side; the wing to the left was formerly a conservatory and infilled with stone in the early 20th century, while the one to the right was a coach house and later kitchens. These wings each have four pilasters supporting a pediment, the tympanum of the left wing being glazed.

The interior is well preserved, featuring a round vestibule with niches and doorways, and an early 20th-century screen that is in keeping with the building’s character. A dentilled ceiling cornice and centre rose are present. A cantilevered stone staircase has a shaped soffit to each step, with a mahogany rail and wrought iron balustrade.