Place House

Place House is probably built between 1539 and 1557 for Sir Oliver Leader, situated within the moated site of the manor previously held by the Carthusians until 1537. Originally an irregular H-plan mansion, only the south wing and west cross-wing now survive. A single-storey gabled wing on the south side has been raised to two-storey height, accompanied by a new kitchen wing to the north. Alterations occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the window openings are largely restored or modern.

The building is constructed of red brick in English bond, with plain tile roofs. It has parapet gables with triangular limestone copings.

The south facade of the main wing and west cross-wing has two storeys. There are three ridge stacks, an end stack to the cross-wing, and a side stack with crow-stepped offsets to the east. Five first-floor windows have three lights, and two lights, all with splay-mullions, moulded labels, and leaded lights; two on the east may be original. Four similar windows are on the ground floor, three of which have transoms. Straight joints are visible from earlier sash window insertions. A limestone moulded doorway features a four-centred arch.

The west facade of the cross-wing has a loggia of three bays with four-centred arches of two chamfered orders, set against chamfered piers and a chamfered plinth. A first-floor window, original to the building, has four lights, splay-mullions, transoms, and a moulded label.

The original internal room layout was altered in the early 18th and 19th centuries. The plain newel staircase and framed partition walls remain. Original open hearths have been sealed in the ground floor rooms. One room retains complete bolection moulded panelling with a corner fireplace, and there is some panelling in other rooms. The original doors include one early plank door, a 17th-century panelled door, and 18th-century raised and fielded panel doors. The exposed floor frame displays chamfered cross-beams and narrow, deep-sectioned joists. The side purlin roof of the main wing exhibits curved wind braces in each of the nine bays.