Old Astwood Farmhouse

Farmhouse, dating to the late 16th century, with alterations in the mid-18th century, around 1800, and the mid-19th century. It is partly timber-framed with rendered infill, and partly brick, with plain tiled roofs. Originally a hall with two-bay cross-wings at the north and south gable ends, the north cross-wing was removed in the mid-18th century, and the hall itself around 1800. A two-bay brick range was then added to the south side of the remaining south cross-wing. In the mid-19th century, a single-bay brick addition replaced the former hall, with east and west wings adjoining the cross-wing. The original cross-wing has an external sandstone chimney with four rebuilt diagonal stacks to its south side, and the south wing has a large external brick chimney, with offsets and a rebuilt stack to its rear. The house is two storeys with an attic and cellar, and features cogged eaves cornices; the south wing is single-storey and attic, with dormers.

The framing of the cross-wing shows three rows of close-set vertical studs running from sill to wall-plate, the upper row at the gable ends containing decorative panels and short straight braces at the upper corners. The attic has a jettied bressummer and collar and tie-beam trusses with two collars, struts, and decorative panels.

The west front has casement windows throughout. The original gable end has a three-light and a single-light window on the ground floor with plank weatherings, a two-light and a three-light window on the first floor, and an attic light. To the left is a mid-19th century gabled timber-framed porch with moulded bargeboards and a finial, leading to a panelled door. The mid-19th century addition to the left has a ground-floor bay window and a first-floor three-light window with a cambered head. The south wing to the right has three three-light windows, a rectangular light, and two doors, all with cambered heads, as well as two gabled dormers with two-light windows.

Inside, the cross-wing has a stop-chamfered cross-beamed ceiling and a large sandstone fireplace on the west bay. A winder staircase beside the chimney leads to the upper floor of the south wing. The house was formerly occupied by the Vernon family before they moved to Hanbury Hall in the early 18th century.