Churchill House

Churchill House is a house, largely dating to the early 17th century, with alterations and additions, particularly in the late 17th century. Visible on the front are rainwater heads inscribed with the initials “TLE” and the date 1688. The construction is timber framed, with close studding, lath and plaster, and whitewashed brick infill. The front range is of red brick with a brick sill band at the first floor, a wood cornice with modillions and egg and dart decoration, and old tile roofs with brick chimneys.

The house comprises a largely L-shaped plan. It is two storeys and has an attic, with a five-window front. A central six-panelled door with an overlight, featuring decorative glazing in a moulded surround, opens onto the street. The ground floor has two wide rectangular bay windows with paired sixteen-pane sashes, the one on the right also containing a sash door. Stone quoins are present. A wood dentil cornice runs across the facade, continued over the entrance, along with a moulded wood cornice and roof. Smaller slate hipped roofs are situated at either end of the facade, slightly offset from the bay windows. A central doorway to a balcony is located on the first floor, leading to a double-leaf four-panelled door framed by a bolection moulded architrave, sunk panels, acanthus leaf consoles, and an enriched entablature with egg and dart moulding. An open scroll pediment with a pineapple motif sits above the door. Windows have egg and dart moulded frames. Three flat-roofed dormers with leaded light casements and egg and dart cornices are present in the attic.

The rear of the house largely displays exposed timber framing with close studding. A low timber-framed wing extends to the left, while a gabled wing on the right features a jowled post. A long wing beyond this is divided into two stages with separate roofs. The first stage’s timber framing is partially faced with whitewashed brick, while the rear is predominantly brick. The second, taller stage, originally used as stables and now incorporated into the house, has some wattle and daub and whitewashed brick infill and irregular window placement.

The interior includes a front ground floor room with early 17th century panelling and a corner fireplace boasting a carved overmantel. A dog-leg staircase with winders and twisted balusters is also present. An upper front room features late 17th century panelling with broad panels and double-leaf doors to the stairs and balcony. A high relief plasterwork ceiling, dated 1688, displays the initials “TLE” along with a central oval wreath of flowers and foliage; spandrels with flower and foliage scrolls; a frieze of bouquets and ribbons; and a central cartouche on each wall. Exposed framing is found in the rear wings. Other rooms feature a broad open fireplace with a chamfered bressumer, and a mid-18th century carved chimney piece. Stepped stop-chamfered beams divide the ceilings into panels. A projecting wood sign bracket with scrollwork is located at the front.