Ash Hall

Ash Hall is a farmhouse dating from around 1710 to 1720, with a mid-to-late 19th century addition at the rear. The house is constructed of red brick with grey sandstone ashlar dressings, and has a hipped plain tile roof with a two-span design at the rear. The building is square in plan, with two storeys and an attic over a basement.

The front elevation features a plinth with a moulded stone top, flush stone quoins, and a string course. A moulded eaves cornice with carved modillions runs along the top, and there are pairs of brick ridge stacks positioned off-centre to the left and right. The facade is arranged with a 2:1:2 bay arrangement; the central bay is emphasized by a giant Corinthian order comprising unfluted pilasters supporting short sections of entablature. The eaves cornice breaks forward above this central section, topped with a small triangular pediment containing a circular window with a moulded architrave. The windows are 18th century boxed glazing bar sashes with moulded stone cills and gauged-brick heads. The central entrance is flanked by a pair of 18th century oak doors, each with four raised and fielded panels, and a four-part rectangular overlight, contained within a stone doorcase. The doorcase features a moulded lugged architrave, a raised keystone, a pulvinated frieze, flanking panelled pilaster strips with carved consoles, and a segmental pediment with a broken-back centre and a projecting cornice. Two stone steps lead to the front door. The left-hand return front has four bays with wooden cross windows and glazing bar sashes. The rear slope is punctuated by a pair of lead-covered, flat-roofed dormers, each with a two-light wooden casement. The right-hand return front displays three bays with glazing bar sashes, and a 18th century oak door in the second bay from the right, featuring eight raised and fielded panels, a two-part rectangular overlight, a pegged oak frame with double-quirked corner beading, and a flat hood with carved wooden console brackets.

The rear elevation incorporates a plinth, a plat band between the ground and first floors, and a parapet with stone coping and shaped kneelers. A central, full-height round-arched recess and 2:2:2 bays of wooden cross windows and glazing bar sashes are also present. Two square basement windows with chamfered stone reveals are notable. A 19th century two-storey brick rear wing features a brick ridge stack and a two-window front to the south-east.

The interior retains many early 18th century features, including a three-flight square-well oak staircase with landings. The staircase has an open string with cut brackets, fluted column-on-vase balusters (two per tread), a moulded handrail with curved ramps, and a wreathed foot newel. A right-hand ground-floor front room exhibits bolection-moulded panelling with a dado rail and moulded cornice, and window seats. The left-hand ground-floor front room contains reused 17th century panelling with a fluted frieze and an early 18th century moulded cornice. A mid-18th century fireplace in a right-hand ground-floor rear room is distinguished by a lugged architrave with egg and dart enrichment, a carved frieze with a central urn, scrollwork, and paterae at either end, and a cornice with egg and dart enrichment. Early 18th century doors with raised and fielded panels and moulded architraves are found throughout. Reported by the occupant in 1986, three bedrooms contain full bolection-moulded panelling (though this was not confirmed during a subsequent inspection). Ash Hall represents a complete and well-detailed example of an early 18th century farmhouse.