Thorney Lodge

Thorney Lodge is a farmhouse, dating from 1855, that has been divided into two dwellings. It was likely designed as a hunting lodge by S S Teulon for the Duke of Bedford’s Thorney estate, and built in a style intended to evoke the 17th century. The building is constructed of gault brick, with some brighter yellow brick detailing, and has a Welsh slate roof with gabled dormers. There are two large brick stacks at the rear of the front section and a ridge stack on the rear wing. Features include an offset brick plinth, cogged brick eaves cornice, moulded brick kneelers to all gables, and a small, blank, recessed panel in the centre of each gable.

The main block is two storeys high with some first-floor windows rising into gabled dormers. It comprises a double-pile range with a two-storey wing at the rear and a single-storey wing with an attic. The front of the building is symmetrical, with three bays and a projecting, central, two-storey gabled porch. The porch doorway and side windows have 4-centered brick arched heads, chamfered jambs, and alternating courses of dark and bright bricks, leading to a panelled door. A 3-light casement window sits in each bay to either side of the porch, with a 2-light casement above each and to the first floor. The right-hand return gable wall of the front range features a single-storey canted bay window with a slate roof, containing 2-light casements flanked by single-light casements and yellow brick angle quoins. Otherwise, single, two, or three-light casements, similar to those on the front, are found in the side walls and rear wing. The rear wing has one gabled dormer like those on the front and two 4-centered arched doorways with external chamfers. All casements have wood frames with glazing bars.

Inside, a staircase boasts turned newels and balusters, along with a moulded handrail. Part of the drawing room is panelled.