Rossall Farmhouse

A farmhouse dating from the early to mid-18th century, with a smaller 19th-century extension at the rear. The house is constructed of red brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with a plain tile roof; the rear has been re-tiled with concrete tiles. Brick stacks project from the gable ends. The plan consists of a front range with a central stair hall and two rooms – a parlour to the left and a hall/kitchen to the right. A central rear wing creates a T-shaped plan, with a smaller wing to the rear left and a two-storey block to the rear right angle, the origins of which are uncertain; a 19th-century outshut extends across the back of these rear wings.

The two-storey house has a symmetrical three-window south-west front. Modern canted bay windows and a brick porch are centrally located on the ground floor. The first floor retains original window openings with cambered brick arches, now containing three-light mullion-transom casements, the central light being two panes wide. Three small dormers with casements are set into the roof above the eaves. A fire insurance plaque is positioned above the centre window on the first floor. The rear elevation features a large gable-ended wing in the centre, a short gabled wing in the left angle, and a two-storey 19th-century wing to the right angle.

The interior is largely intact, with much of the original joinery remaining. The right-hand room has two large chamfered cross-beams with ogee stops, unchamfered joists, and a fireplace with a replacement timber lintel. The back kitchen features roughly chamfered cross-beams and a large fireplace with a chamfered timber lintel with hollow-step stops. A good oak staircase, with a moulded string, moulded handrail, square newels with arris moulding, but lacking balusters and with plaster infilling on the landing, rises to the attic. A secondary back staircase to the attic has a simple stick balustrade. The attic landing has deeply chamfered beams. Original panelled and plank doors are throughout. 18th-century chimneypieces are found in all first-floor chambers, with very small fireplaces in the attics. Original coupled-rafter roof structures are present over the main range and rear wing.

A plaque on the front door records that the Prince Regent visited Rossall in 1808 and, upon tasting the farm’s cheese, commanded the tenant to supply him with a regular quantity.