Rhiston Farmhouse

Rhiston Farmhouse is a timber-framed building, originally dating to the late 16th century, with subsequent modifications in the early 17th century, around 1786, and later additions and alterations. The original structure has a red brick plinth and was largely timber-framed with plaster infill, most of which had been removed by 1985. It features a slate roof, also partially removed during the 1985 survey. The original farmhouse comprised three framed bays, likely of baffle-entry plan, with eaves raised in the early 17th century. A full-height red brick addition was constructed around 1786 at a right angle to the rear on the right side.

The original building is two storeys with gable-lit attic windows. The timber framing displays square panels with long straight tension braces, two from raised cill to wall-plate and one rectangular panel above with shorter braces. Cross bracing is found on the back wall, supported by V-struts from collars to gable ends. Much of the original fenestration was removed by 1985, with a late 19th century cross-window remaining to the front and a contemporary four-light casement to the left gable end. Two square-headed openings are present on the ground floor, one with a 20th-century casement. Dormer windows were inserted in the late 20th century. A red brick gabled porch, likely dating to around 1840, is positioned to the right, featuring a toothed cornice carried up around the gable and a round-headed outer arch. A prominent red brick ridge stack, with three attached and rebated shafts of star section – rebuilt in the late 20th century – is situated slightly to the left of centre. A well-proportioned two-story red brick addition to the rear features canted sides with blind segmental-headed windows on each floor, and a similar opening to the cellar on the north side. It also includes an external end stack (with a rebuilt top) and a toothed eaves cornice around the gable. One section of the rear addition adjoins the main range and has tall window openings on each floor, along with a segmental-headed opening to the left.

Inside, the ground-floor rooms contain chamfered spine and cross beams with jewelled and ogee stops. A substantial inglenook fireplace with a plain wooden lintel is located in the right-hand ground-floor room. The first-floor rooms are fitted with 18th-century panelled doors with L-hinges, and a series of small inset wall cupboards with H-hinges. Oak winder staircases connect the ground floor to the first floor and the first floor to the attic, with an elegant curved handrail at the top. The double-purlin roof is structured in three bays with collar and tie beam trusses, vertical struts (one with painted decoration), and straight wind braces. Inscribed in plaster infill of the first truss from the right are the initials “R.I. 1786,” likely contemporary with the red brick range to the rear. The farmhouse was undergoing extensive repair and restoration during the 1985 survey, and the later 20th-century extensions to the rear and against the right gable end are not considered to be of special architectural interest.