Westgate House

House. Dating back to the 17th century, the house was largely rebuilt in the early 18th century, with a later rear range added in the late 19th century. The north-west end of the front range is built of clunch, cased in red brick with clunch dressings, while the south-east end of the front range, the stairway, and a rear office extension are of red brick also with clunch dressings. The roof is tiled with rebuilt parapets to the ends and end stacks. A ridge stack associated with the late 17th to early 18th century house has been removed. The house is arranged in an L-shape. The front range is two storeys and an attic, framed by rusticated quoins and divided by a plat band. The north-west end of the front range is the earliest section, with some repaired brickwork visible. Two recessed hung sash windows, likely dating from the early 19th century, sit within original flat arches of clunch featuring raised key blocks, with two similar windows on the ground floor. Around 1731, the house was remodelled, and the front range was extended to the south-east. The front facade now features two flush frame hung sashes on each storey. A doorway, originally positioned further north-west of the front wall, is now centrally located with three steps leading to a panelled door framed by a moulded architrave, a rectangular fanlight, and intersecting glazing bars. In approximately 1731, a rear staircase and office range were added, constructed of red brick, now rendered, and covered by a lean-to, pantiled roof. The original service wing was rebuilt in the late 19th century. A late 17th century red brick ridge stack sits between the front and rear wings. Internally, the earlier 17th century section has clunch walls cased in red brick, which are thicker than those of the 18th century red brick additions. Abutting hearths serve the front and rear rooms. An original stop-chamfered main beam is present in the front room, along with a characteristic late 17th century purlin roof where the purlin is tenoned into the principal rafter. The 1731 extension includes an open-well staircase with a closed string featuring column-on-vase balusters, a moulded rail, and square newels. One first-floor room retains sunk panelling, and a ground-floor room has an 18th century cornice. The rear office includes a small corner fireplace with a 19th century cast iron gate, and several other fireplaces throughout the house date to the 19th century.