Wellvale House

Wellvale House, originally a small country house set in a park, is now a private school. It dates from the early 17th century and was significantly remodeled around 1730 for James Bateman. The house was extended in the late 18th century for Francis Dashwood, partly gutted by fire in 1845, and rebuilt in 1925 by Guy Elwes. The building features red brick in English and Flemish bonds, with ashlar dressings and plain tiled hipped roofs that have lead dressings, along with four ridge brick stacks.

The house is two storeys plus attics, originally arranged in a 2:3:2 layout, with the central bays advanced and pedimented. The left-hand two bays, which are in English bond, are part of the original structure. An additional bay matching the original style was added to the left around 1793, while the right-hand two bays were rebuilt in 1925. The exterior includes a plinth, a first-floor band, and a parapet with a deeply moulded ashlar cornice. The entrance features a half-glazed door with a fan traceried overlight set in a Doric porch with a triglyph frieze and pediment, accessed by three semi-circular ashlar steps. To the left are four glazing bar sash windows, and to the right are three similar windows. The first floor has six glazing bar sash windows, all with flat brick arches. The pediment displays a cartouche bearing the Bateman Arms. The roof includes five glazing bar dormers, pedimented with lead cheeks. The side front of three bays was rebuilt in 1925, while the rear elevation shows the advanced 17th-century wing in English bond, with sash windows that appear to have been inserted later.

Inside, apart from the diamond-set stone flagged floor, the entrance hall and staircase date from 1925. The plaster vaulted passage at the rear of the hall seems to be original, along with the ornate chimney piece in the former drawing room, which features a pulvinated garlanded frieze with oak leaves and ribbons. A similar, smaller chimney piece with an eared surround is found in the former Principal Bedroom. The late 18th-century back stairs have turned balusters and dado panelling. The significance of Wellvale House lies in its park setting and the thoughtful landscape relationship between the house and the church.