Belswardyne Hall

Belswardyne Hall is a manor house, now a farmhouse, dating to circa 1540, with substantial remodelling in the late 18th century and further additions around 1890. The original part is constructed of red brick in English bond and timber frame, with red brick used for the later additions. It has plain tile roofs. The original layout was an L-shape, incorporating a cross-wing projecting to the south-west and a projecting element to the south-east. A late 18th-century staircase turret is situated in the angle between these elements, and a prominent addition was built around 1890 to the north-east and the rear of the building. The house has two storeys and attics, with floor bands and cellars. The south-east elevation has a 2:1:5 window arrangement, mostly featuring late 19th-century wooden mullion and transom windows. A glazing bar sash window is present in the staircase turret. Gauged heads are present on the blind and painted imitation windows of the second and fourth windows from the left on the first floor of the main hall range. Gables are present on the hall range and the staircase turret, linked by a continuous coped stone parapet. Prominent lateral stacks to the left return of the cross-wing feature blue brick diaper patterns and three attached rebated shafts of star section (one replaced by a 19th-century shaft). A full-height gable, dating to circa 1890, incorporates a Classical-style entrance porch inserted between the stacks. A stack on the back wall of the hall range also features three shafts of star section, with others in imitation on the late 19th-century additions.

The interior contains an oak-panelled room in the front of the cross-wing, featuring small rectangular panels with applied Ionic reeded pilasters. It has a chamfered stone fireplace with incised armorial shields to the left and right. A very fine late 16th-century plaster ceiling, said to be the work of the same craftsmen who decorated Plaish, Morville, Upton Cressett and Wilderhope, is also present in the same room, showcasing a variety of heraldic devices and monograms; stylistic similarities are noted with the plasterwork at Abbey House, Buildwas and Old Hall, Hughley. Panelling within other rooms is either 19th-century or brought from elsewhere, and there is a good 18th-century open well staircase with elegantly turned balusters. The use of brickwork in the construction of Belswardyne Hall is considered amongst the earliest in the county, and the house is worthy of further study.