Barlow Woodseats

Barlow Woodseats

A house of 1624 with late 17th century, mid 18th century and 19th century alterations and additions. The building is constructed of thinly bedded coursed rubble coal measures sandstone with ashlar dressings. It features coped gables, quoins, gable and end ashlar ridge stacks with moulded caps, and a stone slated roof.

The house has an irregular plan with a lobby entry to the east side of the north front. It comprises three gabled ranges, each of two storeys with attic space. The west gable is set back and has a full height advanced gable at the rear. A lower two storey gabled range extends to the east.

On the north elevation, the central gabled range displays a tall chamfered mullioned window set centrally at each floor level, each beneath a dripmould: the ground floor window has 4 lights, the second floor window has 3 lights, and the attic floor window has 2 lights. A narrow entrance bay to the east contains a four centred arched doorway with chamfered surround, lintel and plain planked door. Further east is a lower two storey gable with a 20th century garage door to the ground floor and a 3-light chamfered mullioned window above, beneath a dripmould. The gabled range to the west, set back and rising two storeys above a cellar, has an irregular window pattern. At basement level are a 2-light chamfered mullioned window below a rough relieving arch, a single light window to the east, and a low 2-light chamfered mullioned window further east. Above the basement window is a 2-light window, originally a 4-light chamfered mullioned opening but now with two mullions removed and fitted with 19th century glazing bar casements. A 2-light chamfered mullioned window appears at each floor level above, each with a dripmould. To the east of these, at a lower level, are two 4-light chamfered mullioned windows beneath dripmoulds, which appear to be later additions. All windows have leaded lights in metal casements, except where mullions have been replaced by timber windows.

The south elevation comprises a double gabled range set back to the east and a further recessed, lower two bay range running at right angles to the gables. The west gable now incorporates a 17th century porch internally, itself appearing to be a 17th century addition. The gable appears to have been added and further modified in the 18th century, with a 3-light ground floor window now fitted with 19th century sashes between flush mullions within a flush frame. A doorway to the east has similar design with flush surround and a 20th century glazed door with plain rectangular overlight. Above are 2 and 3-light chamfered mullioned windows, both with transoms and dripmoulds. The attic floor has two 2-light chamfered mullioned windows. The west end gable displays a ground floor 3-light chamfered mullioned window with transoms, a first floor window of similar size but with mullions and transoms replaced, and a 3-light chamfered mullioned window at attic level. The ground floor window has no dripmould; the two upper windows do. The west side wall of the west gable has blocked 17th century openings at ground and first floor levels, and the dripmoulds to the south front have been returned around the corner to cover the side wall openings. The east gable has two ground floor glazing bar sashes set in moulded surrounds, a 5-light chamfered mullioned window with transoms to centre beneath a dripmould, and above, a 3-light chamfered mullioned window beneath a dripmould. There is a small blocked opening to the west of the first floor windows. A two storey two bay range to the east has a small advanced tower to the west end beneath a narrow catslide roof and two ground floor 17th century openings. It contains a single ground floor 2-light chamfered mullioned window and two similar first floor openings, the latter without dripmoulds.

Interior

Ground floor rooms retain good 17th century hearths, particularly the present kitchen with a wide segmental ashlar arch. The dining room and parlour preserve good chamfered and quoined surrounds to the hearths. The dining room is panelled with 17th century square oak panelling and bears a date of 1624 in the plasterwork. The parlour features moulded cornices and plasterwork to spine beams, and has a diamond panel to the ceiling of the advanced part of the room to the west of the 17th century porch, which enclosed a chamfered and quoined 17th century door surround. First floor rooms have small hearths with cast iron grates and beamed ceilings. The stair has a masonry centre wall and oak and stone steps. There is a massive oak door at half landing level which can be secured from the flight above. On the ceiling of the staircase to the attic is lettering formed by candle soot, thought to be ritualistic and intended to ward off witchcraft. The attic floor displays four exposed roof trusses, three of which are braced with collar beams and longitudinal braces, all closed to form attic partitions. Within the present garage is a single upper cruck truss.

The house was built by Arthur Mower (died 1652), possibly soon after his marriage in 1620.