Stonehouse

Stonehouse is a house that dates from the early 17th century, with a brick front and rear outshut from the 18th century, possibly incorporating an earlier stair tower. The northern part of the house and its roof were rebuilt in the mid-19th century, likely around 1863 when it was leased by the Ashridge Estate to John Lane, a nurseryman from Balshaw Nurseries. A low west wing was added in the 20th century. The southern end features uncoursed knapped flint with red brick dressings, which was unusual for houses of this period, as indicated by a name recorded in the late 17th century. The southern half of the eastern front is made of red and blue brick, while the rear wall is plastered red brick. The northern half of the eastern front, the northern end, and the northern part of the western wall are constructed of grey brick. The low west wing is made of buff brick. The house has red tiled roofs with a hipped southern end. It is an L-shaped, two-storey building facing east, featuring two windows on each floor and a central door. The windows are recessed 2-light casements with segmental arches. The southern wall, made of flint, has had its windows altered in the 19th century, with one window positioned above two 2-light casements. Inside, the southern part of the house boasts a fine ovolo moulded axial floor beam from around 1620, with rebated rib moulding along the edges of the joists.