Vissitt Manor

Vissitt Manor is a farmhouse, now a house, located on Robin Lane in Hemsworth. The building dates from the 17th century or earlier, with significant alterations made in the early 18th century (dated 1721 on a door lintel) and the addition of a wing, possibly later.

The house is constructed of sandstone rubble brought to courses and coursed sandstone rubble with quoins, beneath a stone slate roof. It adopts a U-plan formed by a two-unit main range on an east-west axis, with a receding wing added at the west end and a rear outshut to the east end.

The south front comprises three distinct elements. The centre features a two-storey, two-unit main range with a fielded-panel door set within a wide architrave with shaped moulding and an inscription "TA 1721" on the lintel, together with a cornice above. Two 16-pane sashed windows with plain surrounds occupy each floor flanking the door. To the right is a former Tudor-arched doorway that has been converted to a window, with an irregular vertical joint beyond it marking a transition in the masonry. The oldest section of the façade, built of masonry brought to courses, contains a small three-light chamfered-mullion window at ground floor and a similar two-light window above it, positioned slightly to the left. Further to the right are three vertically aligned openings with plain surrounds: a square window at ground floor (with another immediately above it, now blocked) and a vertical rectangular window at first floor (also blocked). The unsymmetrical flush gable of the wing to the left displays 16-pane sashes on each main floor, a nine-pane attic window, and a blocked window immediately above it. Remains of two blocked windows at intermediate levels appear to the right, with the roof carried down slightly on this side, suggesting the former position of a staircase. Two ridge chimneys serve the main range, and a side wall chimney serves the wing. A small single-storey 18th-century addition stands at the north-east corner.

The rear elevation includes a three-light flush-mullion window at ground floor and a two-light chamfered-mullion window at first floor in the centre, both with straight dripmouls. The unsymmetrical gable of the wing incorporates a staircase in its left half and features a tall narrow three-stage stair window with glazing bars, a 16-pane sash on each floor to the right, a narrow attic window, and a gable chimney with an added flue to the left.

The interior retains significant features from its early history. The hall or housebody in the main range, now partitioned, preserves massive chamfered lateral beams and exposed joists. At the west end stands a very large rectangular fireplace with a stopped deep chamfer on the head and a massive cambered lintel. A doorway to the left of the stack and a void at first floor above suggest the former position of a staircase. The wing contains a fine open-well staircase with closed string, square newels, turned balusters and moulded handrail, though the former upper flight has apparently been removed. The chamber of the wing features an 18th-century fireplace with moulded architrave and a cast-iron ducks-nest hob-grate decorated with raised Adam-style ornament on the cheeks, including Classical figures, probably of late 18th-century date. An early 18th-century raised-cruck-truss roof is visible, and the former external cap to the main chimney stack demonstrates that the roof has been raised. At the north-east corner, a former outside kitchen house with a bread oven has been incorporated at ground floor level.

A modern screen wall is attached at the left end and a modern conservatory at the right-hand end, not included in the listing.