Old Rectory Farmhouse And Attached Roman Catholic Chapel Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul

Old Rectory Farmhouse and Attached Roman Catholic Chapel of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

A house and chapel complex of late 16th or early 17th century date with earlier origins, incorporating 18th century alterations. The buildings stand on the east side of Friar's Lane in Lower Brailes.

The main house is built to a U-plan with two storeys and an attic. The west elevation is constructed of regular coursed ironstone rubble with a steeply pitched stone slate roof laid to diminishing courses. The three-window range on this front includes a plank door with wrought-iron strap hinges, a moulded wood frame and chamfered wood lintel, flanked by two 2-light casements with bars. The first floor has a 16-pane sash window, a 2-light stone-mullioned window with diagonal lead cames, and a 2-light wood-mullioned window with rectangular lead cames and wood lintel. The attic contains four fixed light windows with stone surrounds.

The south front is faced in early 18th century red brick laid to Flemish bond, with a steeply pitched stone slate roof topped by a brick ridge and end stacks on stone bases, and stone lateral stacks. This elevation has two storeys and a three-window range. The central entrance is a panelled door with moulded wood frame and hood, flanked by two 16-pane sashes with brick flat arches. Three similar sash windows occupy the first floor, and two gabled roof dormers break the roofline.

The interior retains significant medieval and early modern features. Two south-facing rooms have stone flag floors and stop-chamfered or pointed 16th century moulded beams, with 19th century fireplaces built in front of earlier examples. The northern room contains a massive inglenook with a cut bressumer, fronted by Victorian and Edwardian fireplaces that overlay the original fireplace, demonstrating successive additions. The kitchen features a massive inglenook with an 18th century beam fronting the original bressumer, a bread oven, and Jacobean-style racks above the fireplace. Cast-iron fittings including cooking pots, hooks and spit racks remain, as does an oak settle and a stop-chamfered beam. The pantry retains stone flag floors. A hall to the rear of the kitchen contains a 17th century open well staircase with heavy turned balusters. Three further rooms to the north of the hall were not available for inspection. The roof is said to be of late medieval date.

The attached chapel occupies a former rectory barn, now converted with a brewhouse and dairy on the ground floor. Dated to 1726, it is constructed of ironstone ashlar with a steeply pitched Welsh slate roof, two storeys, and a six-window range. A plank door to the left has a moulded wood frame and wood lintel. Three 2-light windows with astragals and wood lintels are positioned on the ground floor. The six wood-mullioned and transomed windows to the first floor contain late 19th or early 20th century stained glass. Two 20th century skylights have been inserted. The rear elevation features a covered external stone staircase to the chapel and four wood-mullioned and transomed windows with stop-chamfered lintels.

The ground floor interior comprises a three-bay brewhouse or malthouse to the left with recesses for coppers and a wide fireplace with massive bressumer. To the right and beyond is a timber-frame partition of lath and plaster, with a side passage serving five small rooms that functioned as a dairy and wine cellar. The two end rooms have wire mesh windows and stone flag floors with wide shelves. The third room from the right has a plank door with strap hinges and was probably a wine cellar. The ground floor features stop-chamfered beams, and the passage wall carries moulded stone plinths.

The first floor chapel is arranged with a confessional, sacristy and priest's study. Early 18th century details include wood panelling, oak altar rails, ceiling cornices, six-panelled doors and wooden window shutters. Three early 18th century pine pews with drawers are positioned in the chapel, with additional 19th century pews. The priest's study retains one wall of 18th century hand-painted wallpaper and 18th century bookshelves.

The buildings are historically significant as the residence of William Bishop, the first Roman Catholic Bishop, who lived here.