Sheepcote Hall

Sheepcote Hall is a manor house and offices dating to the late 16th century, with alterations made in the mid and late 20th century. The building is constructed of roughcast and colourwashed timber framing, with some brickwork, and has plain tile roofs. The original plan comprises a 16th-century block running east-west, with a gabled projection to the north front. To the rear are three gabled projections. An early 17th-century timber-framed extension was added at right angles to the left of the north facade.

The main front has a 20th-century panelled door to the left of a similar-period canted bay window. A single sash window is located to the left of the door, and two are positioned on the first floor. The gabled wing to the left features one sash window on each floor. All windows are mid-20th-century sashes. The building has gabled roofs, with a gable-end stack to the west end on the front roof slope. This stack comprises a 16th-century rectangular plinth and a saw-toothed flue cluster above. Another stack is present on the east gable, emerging from later outshuts and additions. The rear (south) elevation has one 2/2 sash window to the west gable end, while the remaining openings have late 20th-century aluminum replacements. A single-storey hipped brick extension is located at the east end.

The north extension, likely originally a brewhouse, now serves as offices. It is two storeys high with a planked door to the west and two 3-light 20th-century windows under the eaves. A stack rises through the roof at eaves level. The east face of this extension has a 20th-century gabled porch and three 20th-century windows of differing types.

The brewhouse interior features a thin scantling timber frame with chamfered tie beams. It contains a wide wall fireplace of English bond brick, complete with a bread oven, a cast-iron door, and associated fittings. The first floor has a close studded timber frame, and 20th-century internal partitions have been added. The main block includes a staircase in the entrance hall, installed in 1950, along with various other alterations and inserted partitions. On the ground floor, the east room (kitchen) has a roll-moulded bridging beam with keeled tongue stops. The room to the right (west) of the entrance has chamfered cruciform bridging beams with tongue and bar stops. A rear room was remodelled in 1950 but originally contained the 16th-century staircase. Upstairs, the frame features jowled principal studs. One west room contains small-framed 17th-century panelling that is not in its original location. The projecting east wing’s roof is from the 16th century and incorporates principals, curved windbraces, butt purlins, and cambered chamfered collars. The main block’s roof from the 17th century has chamfered principals, collars, curved windbracing, and renewed purlins. The rear cross-wing roof has clasped purlins, but original principals, collars, and curved windbraces, dating to the 16th century.