The Ancient House

The Ancient House is a house with a mid 16th century core and an early to mid 18th century facade, featuring extensive late 19th century additions to the rear and right side, one part dated 1886. It is timber framed, with the facade roughcast rendered, and the right gable end made of colourwashed brick, while the later additions are in red brick. The roof is plaintiled with crest tiles. The house has two storeys and an attic, with eight 18th century sash windows that have glazing bars in flush frames. The doorway is asymmetrical and features Roman Doric pilasters, an entablature with a triglyph frieze, and a pedimented cornice, along with an eight-panel raised and fielded door. There is a wooden modillion eaves cornice, an internal stack, and a gable end stack on the right side. The left gable end is plastered and includes a late 19th century two-storey canted bay, which displays some 16th century pargetted motifs that were reused from the original gable end of the house. Inside, the entrance hall is fully panelled with 17th century panelling and some reused linenfold panelling around the fireplace. The drawing room features mid 18th century panelling, with fine semi-circular recesses on either side of the fireplace that have coved ceilings painted with fruit and flowers. Both the recesses and the fireplace have wooden surrounds carved with ribbons and wreaths. One late 19th century rear window contains three early 16th century heraldic shields, believed to have come from the now demolished rear wing of the house. The late 19th century additions to the south are not of special interest.