Presbytery adjacent to the Church of Our Lady and St Alphonsus

The presbytery, built in 1844-46 by Charles Hansom, is situated adjacent to the Church of Our Lady and St Alphonsus. It has served as a dwelling and presbytery since 1851. The building is constructed of Cradley stone with Forest of Dean stone dressings, and has a tiled roof. Its plan includes an entrance elevation facing north, and a connection to the church to the south via a covered way.

The presbytery is a two-storey building of three bays with a one-bay cross wing to the east. A timber bellcote sits on the main ridge. The main entrance, situated on the north elevation, is framed by a pointed arch with a moulded hood. The original timber door retains ironwork studs and a handle. Above the door is a two-light mullion and transom window with trefoil heads in a square surround. A tall gable to the east contains a single trefoiled opening at first-floor level. West of the door is a canted bay with modern glazing, flanked by single-light windows with paired windows in dormers above, and smaller lucarne openings above these. A further door provides access to a single-storey wing extending west, beyond which lies a walled yard with timber gates.

The eastern elevation features further trefoil-headed windows; the first-floor dormer’s windows have a quatrefoil opening above and a carved stone cross at the apex of the gable. An armorial panel is also present on this elevation. The southern elevation consists of three bays, the third leading to the covered way and the cross wing. Steeply gabled attic dormers are located on the first floor.

The main front door opens into a large hall, believed to have originally been the monks’ refectory, with a large pointed arch halfway down its length and a door to the covered way at one end. The windows still have original shutters that match the shape of the openings. The principal reception room features an ornate fireplace and a timber beamed ceiling. Other ground-floor rooms retain original timber doors, some including quatrefoil viewing panes. The service range to the west retains original cupboards in pointed openings, and one room has original dairy setlas. The main stair has chamfered balusters and carved newel posts, ascending to the first floor where the original monks’ cells have been converted into bedrooms, most retaining original timber doors. The second floor has been altered but retains original windows with decorative iron handles in lucarne openings.

The garden is enclosed by stone walls, and to the east is a stone outbuilding which was reportedly used as lookouts by the Home Guard during the Second World War.