Harnage Grange

Harnage Grange

This is a monastic grange, now a farmhouse, with a medieval core substantially remodelled in the late 16th century and extensively altered thereafter. The building is constructed of coursed grey sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings, combined with late 16th-century English bond brickwork and other red brick, all beneath plain tile roofs.

The house is arranged in a U-plan, open to the north. The medieval parts to the south west have been remodelled and extended in a Neo-Jacobean style. Late 16th-century additions occupy the south east, early 19th-century work the north east, and additions and alterations of around 1933 include a corridor and other insertions within the courtyard. The building varies in height between one storey and attic, two storeys, and two storeys and attic.

The south front features a chamfered plinth and presents a complex composition reflecting its various building campaigns. A central brick lateral stack serves the rear, with a brick ridge stack positioned off-centre to the right. A projection to the right carries a chamfered crowstepped gable and an integral brick stack of three star-shaped shafts with oversailing tops. The elevation displays six windows, comprising chamfered stone mullioned windows with leaded lights to the left and leaded wooden casements to the right. A gabled semi-dormer off-centre to the right contains a five-light wooden casement. A large parapeted gable to the left bears obelisk finials at its apex and feet, with a two-light attic window above a projecting two-storey square ashlar bay that has four-light mullioned and transomed windows on each floor. A large central first-floor three-light mullioned and transomed window is accompanied by a panelled door with chamfered surround beneath, flanked by two- and three-light windows to the left with a returned hoodmould. A glazed door with chamfered surround, set off-centre to the left, has a rectangular overlight and side lights beneath a returned hoodmould.

The left-hand return features a chamfered plinth, an external brick end stack to the left, two brick stacks in front of the ridge, and a large truncated stone and brick external lateral stack at the rear with a row of square openings of uncertain purpose midway up. Three gabled semi-dormers to the left carry parapeted gables and two- to three-light chamfered stone mullioned windows. A first-floor three-light chamfered stone mullioned window to the right has a returned hoodmould, whilst the ground floor displays four chamfered stone mullioned and transomed windows with boarded doors in chamfered surrounds off-centre to left and right, all beneath a returned hoodmould.

The right-hand return comprises a pair of gabled projections off-centre to the right, each with an integral end stack of paired star-shaped shafts with oversailing tops, and a large chamfered crowstepped gable to the left with a two-light attic casement. This front displays four windows: two-, three- and four-light leaded wooden casements with returned brick hoodmoulds, and a half-glazed door off-centre to the right.

The north-east block dates to the early 19th century and around 1933, with a wooden dentil eaves cornice and hipped roof bearing two brick ridge stacks and a rear stack. Its shallow U-plan north front is arranged in 1:2:1 bays with glazing bar sashes featuring gauged heads; a ground-floor tripartite sash to the left has a segmental relieving arch, and a lean-to porch occupies the second bay from the left. The main entrance to the house is now located in a circa 1933 addition to the north side of the south range.

The interior has not been inspected but is said to be much altered. Alterations since around 1933 reportedly include a large staircase hall and the addition of roof timbers designed to give the appearance of medieval construction.

Historical Context

Harnage Grange served as the farmhouse of a grange belonging to Buildwas Abbey. In the 15th century it was occupied by farmers of the grange, though one of the Buildwas abbots is said to have lived here in retirement. The south and east wings were added by the Fowler family after 1569; the brick is said to conceal a timber frame. In the early 18th century a new house was built to the east, but by 1747 the grange was occupied by a tenant farmer. In 1878 the new house was demolished and replaced by the present south-eastern part. A deer park was created to the south in 1684 but had been disparked by 1774.