Fordham Abbey

Fordham Abbey is a small country house built in the mid-18th century, reconstructed from an earlier mansion around 1710 on the site of a Gilbertine priory. It is believed that materials from the earlier building were reused, as evidenced by a painted panel in the over mantel of the entrance hall chimney piece that depicts the eleven-bay facade of the original house. The house was recorded by William Cole as being built around 1760 for William Metcalf.

The structure is made of red brick, with possibly lead roofs hidden behind a parapet on each facade. It has three storeys and a basement, featuring a square plan with a recessed side entrance wing to the south. The parapet has stone coping, and there are two stacks with a moulded cornice. The eaves cornice is made of moulded brick with dentils and a plinth. The west-facing facade has seven bays, with seven twelve-paned hung sash windows on the second floor set in cambered gauged red brick arches, six similar windows on the first floor, including a central round-headed arched window, and six ground floor windows. The central entrance features a six-panelled door and fanlight, topped by a semi-circular planned Ionic portico with stone steps.

Inside, the ground floor rooms are adorned with mid-18th century raised and fielded panelling, original doors and doorcases, and window cases with panelled shutters. A notable feature is the fine open string staircase, which has two flights with barley-sugar twisted balusters, three balusters per step, and a moulded handrail that overrides intricately carved fluted newel posts with Ionic capitals, possibly dating back to around 1710 and likely a remnant from the original house.