Bramham Biggin

A large house located in Bramham, dating back to the 17th century, with significant alterations made between 1750 and 1756 by the architect James Paine for a Mr. Allison. The house is constructed primarily of dressed magnesian limestone, with some coursed rubble, and features a stone slate roof. It follows an H-plan and exhibits a symmetrical design across two and a half storeys. It has a plinth, quoins, and moulded dripcourses extending across two levels. The central set-back section is distinguished by a double-door entrance with an architrave and consoles supporting a pediment that breaks the dripcourse. This area is flanked by two 12-pane sashes on the ground floor, with two more above. A Diocletian window is situated on the second floor, all windows having plain surrounds. A hoodmould covers the remains of a former mullioned window in the gable, which is finished with gable coping, kneelers, and a finial. C18 rainwater heads are positioned in each angle, and narrow diagonal stairlights are visible on each floor of the right-hand angle. Each wing gable features a window on each floor. The ground floor of the right wing has a Venetian window that breaks the dripcourse, with 12- and 9-pane windows above. The windows in the right wing are sash windows, while those in the left wing are glazed but blocked internally by a chimney stack that rises through the gable coping off-centre. Similar hoodmoulds are present on all gables, along with coping, kneelers, and a finial on the right-hand gable. Most windows replace the remains of former cross windows, and similar remains are visible in the re-entrant walls. The return wall of the left wing, with six bays, features windows similar to those at the front, alongside single-storey semicircular bay windows with a parapet to the first and fourth bays, and 12-pane sashes in the second and third bays. A Diocletian window is centrally placed on the second floor, with small sash windows in each outer bay. At the rear, a cross window on the second floor of the right wing gable suggests the original form of fenestration before the 18th-century alterations. The interior has undergone alterations, with the most noteworthy feature being the two-storey entrance hall, which contains an 18th-century staircase with an open string, scrolled brackets, two slim turned balusters per tread, panelled newels, and a ramped handrail. The floor is made of stone flags. The house was used as a school during the 19th century, with additions and alterations that have since been demolished.