Radway Grange And Attached Stable Block

Radway Grange and Attached Stable Block

A country house of late 16th-century origin, substantially altered and extended from around 1745 onwards by Sanderson Miller, with further additions of 1923 by Percy Morley Horder. The building is constructed of ironstone ashlar with moulded string courses, beneath a stone slate roof featuring coped parapets and gable parapets with finials, with ashlar chimney stacks.

The house originally had a double-depth plan of 2 by 2 bays, but has been extended into a complex L-shaped form. It displays Gothick alterations throughout. The principal elevation presents 2 storeys over a basement with an attic storey, arranged across a 4-window range, with projecting 2-storey additions. The 1923 left wing features an open pedimented gable, while a lower and narrower right wing, possibly of the 18th century, has a similar pedimented gable. Windows include 3-light and 2-light examples, with hollow-chamfered mullioned windows bearing hood moulds. The basement contains a 3-light window and a 2-light segmental-arched casement with glazing bars in a stone surround. The main range has 4-light windows with transoms; on the ground floor, the outer lights are blocked by the projecting wings. String courses step up over windows, and there are 3-light attic windows. An 18th-century subsidiary gable stands to the left, with 18th-century lead rainwater heads between the main gables. The further 1923 wing on the left has irregular fenestration without hood moulds. The right return side incorporates an 18th-century grotto with a round-arched entrance, rock-lined internally and finished with a brick tunnel vault, with 2-light windows above.

The west front displays a 2-window range with a projecting central loggia by Miller. A steep central gable with a moulded panel contains three chamfered square-headed doorways, with 2 glazed panels and a door with glazing bars.

The south front presents a 3-window range, with the third bay and alterations by Miller. A richly moulded 4-centred arched doorway and doorcase features foliage-carved spandrels, a frieze with shields and foliage, and remains of cresting, with a 20th-century glazed door. Heavily enriched 2-storey polygonal bays feature large moulded 4-centred arched windows with carved spandrels on the front and 2 sides, mouldings and string courses, blind arcading, first-floor panels with leaf-decorated quatrefoils, moulded cornices and friezes. The 16th-century gables and attic windows sit above an 18th-century parapet between, bearing a moulded 8-pointed star. A fine 18th-century lead rainwater head is present. A diagonally-set square buttress sits between the second and third bays, whilst the right corner has an octagonal clasping buttress. String courses vary throughout, the gable parapet is defined, and remains of pinnacles appear across the elevation. Moulded cinqfoiled 2-light windows with wooden mullions and hood moulds feature foliage-carved spandrels.

The east front comprises 3 storeys over 3 bays. The centre has diagonally-set square buttresses and a steep pedimented gable. The ground floor has 3 closely-set chamfered 4-centred arches with a 19th-century glazed central door and glazed panels, surmounted by panelling of moulded elongated quatrefoils. The first floor has 4-centred arched sashes with Gothick glazing in moulded crocketed ogee architraves, with close panelling above of small trefoiled lancets. The second floor has three 2-light mullioned windows with septfoiled 4-centred lights and a continuous hood mould. A foliage frieze appears above. The left and right bays echo the third bay of the south front.

Interior features include a mid-18th-century gallery in the east range with 2 screens of 3 stone arches, and a 16th-century moulded Tudor-arched doorway. The Dining Room has a Gothick alcove and archway with 4-centred arches and thin shafts, together with a mid-18th-century fireplace and an early 19th-century moulded doorcase with paterae. A quarter-turn back staircase has early to mid-18th-century turned balusters, whilst an enclosed straight-flight staircase has a fielded panelled balustrade to the landing. The first floor contains a Gothick traceried door. A bedroom has a grey stone Gothick fireplace with a moulded Tudor arch, niches with steep crocketed gables, and a frieze. Doors of 2, 4 and 6 panels are present throughout, and trenched purl appears in the roof.

The stable block is attached at right angles to the entrance, positioned at the right corner of the 1923 wing, and features a chamfered 4-centred arched doorway with a plank door. It is constructed of regular-coursed ironstone with a brick dentil cornice, beneath a tile roof with a gable parapet and kneeler. It comprises 2 storeys and an attic storey, arranged across a 4-window range. Three square-headed doorways are present, the left blocked with 19th-century casements inserted. 2-light casements with glazing bars are employed, with a blocked first-floor opening. Stone lintels with flush keystones provide lintel support. Gabled 2-light leaded casement dormers have cut-out quatrefoils. A central clock sits in an open pedimented dormer with a lower entablature supported by consoles. Pilaster strips and consoles support the pediment. An open octagonal lantern crowns the composition. The left return side features a very large doorway with a rusticated arch and fielded panelled doors.