Banks Farmhouse

SK 03 NE ROCESTER C.P. ROCESTER

8/171 Banks Farmhouse

12/1/66 II*

Farmhouse. Early C18. Red brick; hipped clay tile roof; brick integral end stack and ridge stack. L-shape plan with 5 sides of an octagonal tower projecting from the outer corner to the south; Provincial Baroque with early castellated detail and mannered brick- work. SW elevation: 2 storeys on high basement, pilaster strip to left with stone insets as caps to each floor, 3-storey crenellated tower also on basement, first floor band and boldly moulded eaves cornice continued and broken around tower; 2 bays, the right hand one being the tower with windows to each face, mostly blind, segmental headed casements with panelled aprons, the left hand windows have mannered rustication and surrounds and are in a slight break which extends to the eaves cornice; this is emphasized by the use of stone 'caps' above each window jamb forming an effective rusticated pilaster strip, the windows of the tower are not so side and are distinguished by sill band to each floor, simply moulded architraves and boldly projecting triple keystones; blocked oval oculus to second floor centre of tower; tower has basement door to left. Interior: Open well staircase with turned balusters; 2 fireplaces in tower with raised keys; 2 pairs of upper crucks, one pair elbowed. Situated on the edge of a hill overlooking the Dove Valley. B.O.E. P.226.

Listing NGR: SK0990838959