Whichford House And Attached Balustrades

This is a large house, originally built in the late 16th century and with significant additions in the early 18th century. It was formerly the Rectory for Whichford Church. The construction uses squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings, and coursed limestone rubble to the rear, with stone-slate roofs and stone ridge and end stacks. A coped parapet features urns at the corners.

The house has a double-depth plan and two storeys plus an attic. The main façade has a six-window range, with a slightly projecting three-window central section. The front door is a six-panelled door within a moulded stone surround and keystone, surmounted by a segmental moulded pediment. Windows in the central projecting section, the right-hand section, and the right-hand facade have moulded stone surrounds and keyblocks. Some original eight-pane sashes remain, along with some 20th-century hinged casements. A pediment above the central projecting section contains a circular window. A gabled range from the 18th century is located to the left of the central section, with a part-glazed panelled door and a sash window on the first floor.

To the rear, a 17th-century gabled section features a three-light mullioned window with a hood mould and labels, along with leaded casements. Another rear window is a two-light mullioned and transomed window, also with a hood mould and labels. Further additions include a four-light wood-mullioned window with a wood lintel and another panelled and glazed door.

Inside, the entrance hall features a mid-18th century door with a richly moulded six-panel design, a moulded architrave, an acanthus frieze, and broken pediments in each side wall, along with a moulded dado rail. An arched doorway leads to the stairwell at the rear. The mid-18th century open-well staircase has a wreathed and ramped moulded handrail, an open string with carved brackets, a curtail step, three turned balusters to each tread, and a ramped fielded panel stair dado. Two rooms to the right of the stairwell were opened into one around 1975 when a dividing wall was removed. The room is lined with mid-18th century fielded panelling. A mid-18th century stone chimney piece is present in the former south room, featuring a moulded eared architrave and carved frieze. A mid-18th century door and doorcase with a carved frieze and cornice are found in a first-floor bedroom. A terrace with a stone balustrade is positioned on the north side of the house, incorporating vase balusters and panelled pedestals.