The Dower House

The Dower House, dating from around 1740, was originally built for the Smyth family of Heath Hall. An extension was added in the early 19th century, closely matching the original style. It is constructed of ashlar stone with a Westmorland green-slate roof. The building was originally symmetrical, comprising five bays by four bays, with a double depth. Features include rusticated quoins, a chamfered plinth, and a moulded band. The central doorway is distinguished by an architrave, carved consoles, a pulvinated frieze, and a casement-moulded cornice, above which is a five-pane overlight. Windows are set within architraves and have 15-pane sashes—an unusual configuration of five panes by three. An overhanging casement-moulded eaves cornice projects outwards, with a shallow triangular pediment over the central three bays supported by broad tablets on either side. There are two chimney stacks on each side, positioned at the junction with the central projecting bays on the return walls. The original symmetry was altered by the addition of a bay to the left, which projects forward under its own hip roof with an end stack to the left. At the rear, five bays are visible with rusticated quoins, a chamfered plinth, and a plain raised band. A central arched stairwindow has a dropped keystone, and windows are surrounded by plain raised borders. Ground-floor bays three and four were altered by the addition of a link block to an adjacent house, which is not considered of special interest. The right-hand return features central two bays projecting with quoined angles, windows with raised surrounds and 15-pane sashes. One doorway has monolithic jambs and an overlight. The outer bays were originally blind; the fourth bay has been infilled with an incongruous addition, likely from the 19th century, constructed partly of rendered brick with small windows in raised, plain surrounds on both floors.

The interior entrance hall features two arched doorways with fanlights: one leading to the main staircase and the other to a secondary staircase. A fireplace has a moulded stone surround, a fluted keystone, and a large panelled overmantel with a broken pediment. Detailed joinery features throughout the panelled walls, with raised banding on the dado. The open-well staircase has finely-turned balusters (three to each riser), with a central iron-twist baluster, Ionic fluted columns as newels, parquetry inlay on the quarter landing, carved Rococo end-brackets, and a wreathed-and-ramped handrail. Reception rooms and bedrooms retain contemporary wooden panelling, carved chimney pieces, and door frames with six-panel doors. Rear rooms exhibit 19th-century linenfold panelling in an Elizabethan style. The house is illustrated in a booklet, Heath, by I. and E. Hall.