Manor Farmhouse

Manor Farmhouse

Farmhouse with attached outbuilding, now integrated into the house. Dated 1781, built for Elizabeth Nelson of Wolley Park, with later alterations.

The house is constructed in brick laid in Flemish bond, with glazed blue bricks forming the entrance front and red brick with blue headers on the remaining elevations. The former outbuilding range is of red brick with blue brick bands, vertical strips, and dressings. Both structures have plain tile roofs.

The house is three storeys with a cellar and attic, arranged in a 3 by 3 bay plan. The former outbuilding range is set back on the right, standing one storey with an attic, and comprises 3 bays.

The symmetrical entrance elevation features a chamfered plinth and cambered brick-arched openings. A flight of steps leads to a central porch with pilasters supporting capitals and an entablature with a dentilled pediment. The inner door comprises four flush panels with a leaded glazed top panel. The flanking windows are early 19th-century sashes; the openings were formerly wider and slightly less deep. Above these are windows of three, two, and three lights respectively, each light having horizontal glazing bars and three small panes at the top. The eaves are moulded and dentilled. The roof over the front range is hipped, with twin ridges at right angles behind, each with a ridge stack.

The former outbuilding on the right, possibly a dairy and wash-house, has a chamfered plinth and a bricked-up former doorway. On the left is a wide part-glazed door in a raised blue-brick surround with an open red-brick pediment. A central 20th-century three-light window occupies a formerly wider segmental-arched opening.

The rear elevation of the house features a central entrance with a six-panel flush door with a two-pane leaded overlight, set in a flat-roofed blue-brick porch with pilasters and cornice. To the right is a segmental-arched window with a wooden mullion and transom and one remaining leaded casement; a small inserted window lies to the left. On the first floor, a small segmental-arched two-light window appears to the left. Above the porch is a small window with an inscribed stone in the head, which includes Elizabeth Nelson's name. Flanking this window are two bricks initialled 'NK' and 'EK', and two rainwater heads embossed 'EN 1781'. The eaves are stepped and dentilled. Paired hipped gables are present, the left one featuring a gabled attic dormer on the right side.

The outbuilding has a shallow addition to the left section with two 20th-century garage doors, and an early 20th-century added outshut on the right with a door and Welsh slate roof; a 20th-century door separates these sections.

The left return elevation features two two-light cellar windows, each with chamfered stone surrounds and iron stanchions. A tall central stair window with 20th-century small-pane glazing is present, with windows to each floor on the left—that on the first floor being enlarged—each having 20th-century glazing. On the right is an early 19th-century sash with glazing bars (sill lowered) above a bricked-up smaller window.

The right return elevation displays a wide three-light window retaining one old leaded light with a decorative catch; the arch features a taller central vouissoir. Above is a three-light window, with moulded dentilled eaves below.

Interior

The house interior includes panelled and board doors, panelled window shutters and reveals, and panelled cupboards. Fireplaces are present throughout. A decorative dado rail runs along the central through-passage. At the foot of the stair are paired arches on columns. The stair is dog-legged with a closed string, stick balusters, columnar newels, and a ramped handrail. A plainer stair rises to the attic. The roof structure is of staggered butt-purlin construction.

The former outbuilding range retains chamfered beams and a wooden stair to the attic with a strap-hinged board door at its foot. A bread oven formerly occupied the right-hand room.