Bateman'S

Bateman's is a Grade I listed property owned by the National Trust, built in 1634 by the prosperous iron-master John Brittan. Originally known as Lane Bridge until 1760, the house is constructed of ashlar with a tiled roof and features two storeys and an attic in gables. The entrance front faces east and has five windows along with a chimney breast. The house was originally E-shaped, but the north projecting wing has been demolished.

At the center, there is a projecting porch with two storeys above, topped by a gable with kneelers and a ball finial. The porch includes a round-headed archway flanked by pilasters and a scroll pediment that displays the date 1634. The south projecting wing also features a gable with kneelers and a ball finial, while the north side has a recessed section with one window. The casement windows vary in size, with three, four, and five lights; the ground floor window of the south wing has two tiers of lights, all featuring stone mullions, transoms, and dripstones.

The rear of the house has five windows, with a nearly central projection that has a tile-hung gable above, and another tile-hung gable at the south end. The roof is adorned with an impressive row of six diamond-shaped red brick chimney stacks. Inside, the house retains a contemporary staircase, fireplaces, and panelling. Rudyard Kipling purchased Bateman's in 1902 and lived there until his death in 1936. It was bequeathed to the National Trust by his widow in 1940, along with its contents, and Kipling's study remains preserved as it was during his time.