The Old Vicarage

The Old Vicarage is a former parsonage house, built in 1863 for T W Gwillam. Although the architect is unknown, the building’s style is attributed to E F Law of Northampton. It is constructed from coursed ironstone rubble with limestone dressings, and has decorative tiled pavilion roofs with elaborate ironwork ridge cresting. The design follows a regular central entrance hall plan, with a separately roofed stair turret at the rear and service and servants’ accommodation within attached annexes to the right. The main range is two storeys with a central attic block. It features a roundel eaves cornice above a corbel table, punctuated by the first-floor window lintels; all windows have stone architraves with rounded corners, and a continuous string course runs at first-floor sill level. Quoining and 2 and 4-pane plate glass hornless sashes are throughout. The front elevation is symmetrically arranged with three windows, a central doorway featuring a stone surround and a plaque bearing the initials T W G and the date 1863, and double panelled doors with a rectangular overlight. A single-storeyed extension, contemporary with the main house, contains service areas and connects to a storeyed servants’ accommodation under a pyramidal roof, with simpler detailing. The left elevation has a 1:3:1 arrangement, with a canted storeyed bay and attic storey above, featuring a pavilion roof and flanked by bulky battered stone stacks, which are an original and important design feature, particularly visible from the south elevation which comprises a 1:1:1 storeyed canted bay. Other elevations have the rear service areas carefully massed and with simpler treatment. The interior is reported to contain complete original fittings including stone fireplaces with scooped and panelled surrounds and moulded mantel shelves, and boldly panelled doors with moulded stone surrounds. Door furniture is likely from around 1900. The Old Vicarage is considered a remarkable house for its date, retaining its original massing and detailing.