The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory is a rectory that has been converted into a house, originally built in 1714 with an additional wing added in the 1820s. It is constructed of red brick in Flemish bond, with the front rendered and the rear painted. The building features a slate roof at the front and plain tiles at the rear. It has two storeys, an attic, and a basement, comprising four bays, with the lower range from the 1820s located to the left. There are steps leading to the off-centre original entrance, while the current entrance is at the rear. The windows are 12-pane sashes, and the building has a parapet and an M-shaped roof with gabled dormer windows. The rear includes a later porch with a half-glazed door, and the 12-pane sashes are set in flush architraves under flat gauged brick arches. The eaves band and parapet are also notable, along with the gabled dormers featuring sashes. The later wing has 12-pane sashes in reveals under segmental arches.

Inside, the entrance hall showcases paired arches leading to the staircase, which is supported by pilasters and features keyed archivolts. The closed-string stair, possibly remodelled, has column-on-vase balusters with square knops, along with column newels and a ramped moulded handrail. The newels are adorned with square pendants and finials. Dado panelling with pilasters follows the line of the stair. Other interior highlights include a well-crafted carved chimneypiece in the drawing room, another in the entrance hall, and six-panel doors set in architraves with cornices. The Old Rectory was the home of Dr. Rhudde, who was the grandfather of Maria Bicknell, the wife of the painter John Constable.