Doughty House

Doughty House is a mid-18th century house that has undergone later alterations in the 18th century, mid-19th century, and early 20th century. A gallery was added around 1880 for Sir Francis Cook, which was extended in 1915 by Brewer Smith and Brewer for Sir Frederick Cook and is listed separately. The house is constructed of stock brick with stone rustication and dressings, topped with a hipped slate roof. It stands three storeys high with a basement and features five bays, with the central three bays projecting forward under a pediment. The ground floor and basement are rusticated stone, and there is a stone doorcase with a flat canopy supported by ornate piers with lion head brackets. A pair of oak fielded panelled doors is located beneath a fanlight and accessed by a flight of steps over an area. All windows are sash; those on the first floor are set in stone pedimented eared architraves, while the second floor windows have eared architraves with a linking stone cill band. The central first floor features a debased Palladian window above a tripartite window with raised stone panels in between. The pediment has a modillion cornice and an open oculus, and the parapet is adorned with pineapples at the corners.

On the right return, there are four bays with the central bays again breaking forward under a plain pediment, continuing the design of the entrance front. Inside, there is an Ionic screen with added wrought iron gates and an overthrow, along with a modillion cornice. The doorcases are pulvinated with panelled linings. A stone stair with an iron balustrade and mahogany rail leads to the first floor, featuring an 18th century moulded dado rail. There is an early 20th century niche on the ground floor, along with a 19th century rear stair wall and niches. The double drawing room has an Ionic screen on iron columns, plain panelled walls, and a moulded dado. The doorcases are pedimented with foliate pulvinated friezes, and there is an eared chimneypiece with an oak leaf pulvinated frieze. The rear wall was pushed out in the early 20th century. The dining room walls have been reclad, covering former panelling and door openings. The first floor front room features a chimney piece with an eared architrave and foliate pulvinated frieze, along with flanking alcoves with shaped heads. The doorcases and six panelled doors are mid-18th century.