Cromford Court

Cromford Court is a large house, dating to 1901, originally built for J.T.W. Lawton, the manager at Masson Mills. It was restored between 1980 and 1990 and is now a study centre. The house is constructed of ashlar, rendered brick, and timber framing, with a plain tile roof featuring overhanging eaves and ornate barge boards. Twelve rendered chimney stacks are present, each with diagonal terracotta tops and terracotta tracery.

The architectural style is elaborate, with a deep chamfered plinth and a moulded first-floor band. The main east front features a projecting central section with two canted bay windows flanking a single cross mullion window under a segmental arch. Above this is a three-light window flanked by shallow canted bay windows, all with cross casements. Further details include two four-light windows, two smaller windows, a projecting octagonal turret with a two-light casement and a copper spire, a two-window section with cross mullion windows, three-light cross casements, and a five-light dormer. A tall gabled canted ashlar bay window with five-light cross mullion windows on each floor is complemented by a single window with a cross casement and an enlarged dormer window above. A set-back wing to the right has a three-window frontage with a central projecting ashlar bay, square at ground floor level and with a two-storey canted oriel above.

The north front is characterised by a central doorway with a stepped ashlar hood and a large three-light cross mullion window in a shallow pointed arch above. A two-storey canted bay window is positioned to the right, and various irregular casement windows are found above, one in a timber-framed gable. The south front features a more informal entrance with two arches framed by fine ashlar columns, a four-light window, a two-light and a three-light window, an inserted fire escape window, and irregular casements in two projecting gables. The west entrance front presents a projecting entrance with double panel doors, a projecting hood, and a tall four-light stair window with tracery above. A large segment-headed six-light window with tracery is positioned to the right, and an entrance archway with a moulded pointed arch and decorative blind tracery (featuring blank shields) is located to the left, set at right angles.

The interior includes a dining room with dado panelling, door surrounds, and a wooden fire surround. The entrance hall has panelling, ornate plaster coving, and a wooden staircase featuring “barley-sugar” turned balusters and square panelled newels. The upper octagonal open landing was ‘floored in’ and retains a glazed 'top-light' with stained glass. The main reception room boasts an ornate plaster ceiling with Adam-style panels, while the former billiard room is distinguished by a fine ashlar fire surround with columns and carved capitals.