Farm Building Known As Monks Refectory Approximately 100 Metres West Of Church Of St Michael And All Saints

A farm building, known as "Monks Refectory," dating back to possibly the 15th century, stands approximately 100 metres west of the Church of St. Michael and All Saints. It has undergone alterations in the 17th and 18th centuries and subsequently. The building’s original function is uncertain, but it may have served as a refectory or lodgings linked to the former Nostell Priory. Constructed from coursed sandstone, some squared and others as rubble, with handmade brick, it is topped by a graduated stone slate roof, and retains substantial timber framing internally.

The long, rectangular range comprises at least seven bays, with a rear outshut extending three bays at the east end. The south front, two storeys high, appears to be of two distinct builds. Chamfered doorways are present in the first, second, fourth, and fifth bays, the last featuring a four-centred arched head and deeply chamfered surround. A vertical joint marks a change in the masonry, with a larger construction beyond, exhibiting a large hollow-moulded drip mould above a first-floor window, and the wall set back slightly. The first and third bays possess four-centred arched doorways with deep chamfers. The second bay has been altered to a window, while the blocked head of a former entrance in the second bay now contains a narrow two-light mullioned window. Various windows, mostly with slightly recessed chamfered mullions, are spaced throughout both parts and on both levels. A louvred dormer is located at each end of the roof.

On the rear, the first two bays at the west end display large coursed blocks at ground floor and rubble above, with a blocked slot near the centre suggesting the former position of a wall-post. A damaged four-centred arched doorway is present at this end, alongside deeply chamfered stonework. Further east, various small openings include a two-light window (lacking a mullion), three slit breathers to the upper level, and four low windows within the outshut, two of which have recessed chamfered mullions. A louvred dormer is present, and some roof slates are dislodged. The east gable is of random rubble at the lower level, with handmade brick above, concluding with an exposed ridge and brace in the apex.

Internally, the building boasts storeyed timber framing with an aisle extending to the three easternmost bays. In this area, the framing is most complete, though the upper floor has been removed. Notable features include wall-posts with jowls at mid-level and at the heads, supporting cross beams and tie-beams, along with concave braces to the aisle-plate and empty mortices for braces to the tie-beams. A cross beam, featuring raised cusped and traceried decoration (likely repositioned), is found within the third frame from the east end. All visible tie-beams have stud-holes in the soffits, suggesting former partitioning at the first story. Front wall posts are missing from the first, fourth, and fifth frames from the east end. The roof structure incorporates king-post trusses with bracing to the ridge and three pairs of purlins. Various inserted partition walls are present within the western half of the range.