Grange Farmhouse

Grange Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating from the 17th century, with two distinct phases of construction and alterations in the 19th century. It is located on Darrrington Road, East Hardwick, and is of group value. The farmhouse is primarily constructed from sandstone, with a pantiled roof. The earlier part of the building is of large, random rubble, now mostly pebble-dashed, while the later section features coursed squared sandstone, the west side of which is chiselled and strap-pointed, with the remainder rendered. The remainder has a stone slate roof.

The main part of the farmhouse has an unequal double-depth, lobby-entry, two-unit plan. It is three storeys high and was probably originally symmetrical. The east front has a plain doorway with a rectangular lintel, and a four-pane sash window on each side. There is a similar window at the first floor to the right, and an inserted window above the door. Two small six-pane windows are located in the attic, with gable copings and kneelers. A chimney is situated on the roof slope in line with the door. The south gable features two sash windows at ground and first floor levels.

The rear elevation has a central doorway with a large, rectangular, chamfered lintel. To the left is a modern three-light casement window with a flat-arched head, and to the right, a two-light double-chamfered mullioned window with a rendered surround. On the first floor to the left is a two-light horizontal-sliding sash window, also with a flat-arched head, and two oval tie-plates. The second floor has two two-light double-chamfered mullioned windows, from which the mullions are absent. A chimney is positioned on the slope next to the left gable.

The earlier element, now forming a service wing at the north end, is single depth, two units, and two low storeys. The east side, which connects to the main block, is primarily composed of large random rubble with a weathered coping at first floor level, except for two pillars of the same material that extend up to the eaves. External steps lead to a door at first floor level (formerly a granary), with inserted windows at this level. The roof is hipped at the north end, and has a ridge chimney. The pebble-dashed rear of this wing contains, among other features, a small two-light mullioned window at ground floor level in the northern bay, and what was formerly a similar window above, but lacking the mullion.

The interior of the main element features 17th-century stop-chamfered beams on the ground floor, similar beams on the first floor, and some timber-framed partition walls. A central chimney stack, approximately two meters deep, is present. Behind this is a splat-baluster staircase extending to the full height of the building. Cross-corner fireplaces are located on two levels at the northwest corner. There are two exceptionally large kingpost roof trusses of pine, with kingposts bolted to the beams, and two tiers of fishbone struts. A longitudinal partition creates small lodgings for labourers in the west side of the attic. The structure suggests a partial rebuilding of an early 17th-century house in the late 17th or very early 18th century.