Lower Farmhouse

Lower Farmhouse, dated 1738, was built for John and Elizabeth Sheppard. The farmhouse is constructed of dressed grey sandstone, with a squared and thinly coursed sandstone plinth, and has a plain tile roof. It is two storeys high, with a basement. The right-hand gable end has a parapet with coping and shaped kneelers. There’s an external dressed sandstone stack to the right, topped with red brick, and an integral brick stack to the left. The farmhouse has five bays, with glazing bar sashes, exposed window boxes, painted moulded stone cills, and painted lintels featuring fluted keystones with a moulded top edge. Five stone steps lead up to the central door, which has five flush panels, the top two being glazed. Above the door is a large painted carved stone datestone with an elaborate cartouche, lettered "John Eliz/Sheppard 1738”. A one-storey kitchen wing or wash house is set back to the right. There are two or three gabled wings to the rear. The interior has not been inspected, but is likely to be of interest. The house is part of a small 18th-century farmstead group which includes a barn and a possible former brew house.