Benthall Farmhouse

Benthall Farmhouse

Farmhouse dated 1660 with early 18th-century and 19th-century alterations and additions. Red brick with dressed red sandstone plinth and hipped slate roof. The building is arranged in a T-plan with further additions to the east, rising to 3 storeys.

The external walls feature a chamfered stone plinth, plat bands (the upper one moulded), and shaped joist ends. Three external brick stacks project from the walls: one at the north-east with a toothed brick course setting back the top stage and a short pitched-roof link to the attic; one at the south-west similarly detailed; and one at the north-west bearing a datestone inscribed 1660, also with a toothed brick course and short slate-hung pitched-roof link to the attic. The initials "G/T.H" on this stack are believed to represent Thomas Griffiths and his son Henry.

The south-east (entrance) front originally had 2 bays over 2 storeys, later refenestrated to 2 bays over 1 storey, with evidence of blocked windows to the right. A projecting wing extends to the left. The 18th-century refenestration replaced segmental-headed windows with straight-headed glazing bar sashes, several of which retain exposed boxes and segmental relieving arches showing the former 17th-century window heads. Some 19th-century four-pane sashes also remain. A 2-light wooden casement with segmental relieving arch sits to the ground floor right. Blind windows appear in the return of the wing. A 19th-century hipped-roof brick and timber porch occupies the angle, containing a half-glazed door with a half-glazed panelled front door behind it. A one-storey wing to the right features a dentil brick eaves cornice.

The south-west front comprises 3 bays divided by the stack, with 18th-century glazing bar sashes, though refenestration and blackings have altered the appearance. The second floor holds 2-light wooden casements, one blocked and one (second from left) blind and rendered. The right-hand bay contains a blind window. A 6-panelled door with moulded architrave and lead-covered bracketed flat hood probably dates to the early 19th century, replacing a former segmental-headed window. A probable 18th-century two-storey addition projects to the left, featuring a ground-floor 2-light casement and first-floor glazing bar sash to the north, a plat band, and a probably altered mono-pitch roof. A one-storey 19th-century kitchen block with integral brick end stack sits at the rear angle.

The interior retains 17th-century features with circa 1700 alterations. The dining room contains 18th-century raised and fielded panelling with dado rail, moulded cornice, and a 6-panelled door. The drawing room features an 18th-century fireplace with lugged architrave and moulded cornice, plus wainscot panelling. A circa 1660 dog-leg staircase has a closed string, turned balusters, moulded handrail, and a square newel post with finial. The bedrooms display varied detailing: one contains 17th-century panelling and an 18th-century bolection-moulded fireplace surround; another has 18th-century bolection-moulded wainscot panelling, fireplace surround, and doors; a third features a 17th-century chimney-piece of notable quality, with Ionic colonnettes flanking the fireplace opening, an overmantel with pilasters dividing lugged panels, and a frieze and moulded cornice. The second floor contains boarded doors.

Scholarly research suggests the house was originally L-shaped with an eastern entrance and underwent significant alteration circa 1700 when the entrance was moved and a new dining room added with a bedroom above, possibly by Henry Biggs. The apparent uniformity of the brickwork is attributed to the reuse of materials during this alteration.