Grange Farmhouse

Grange Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, with additions and alterations made in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is situated on Wroxxton Chapel Lane, Balscote. The principal south-east elevation is constructed of finely jointed ironstone, approaching ashlar, and coursed, squared ironstone. The roof is steeply pitched and tiled, with brick ridge and end stacks.

The farmhouse is a hall house, originally possibly of a 2-unit plan with a through passage and service area, extended by the addition of a parlour, or possibly a 3-unit plan from the outset with later alterations. The front has a 4-window range. A 4-centred arched stone doorway, with weathered spandrels, hood mould and label stop, is positioned slightly off-centre to the right, though the door itself is renewed. To the right of the doorway is a 3-light casement window. To the left is a large hall window with 2 lights, stone mullioned and transomed, with a weathered, traceried square head. The first floor has two 18th-century sash windows with wood lintels, and a 3-light wood-framed window with a metal casement, a wrought-iron fastener, and wood lintel. The left-hand section, slightly lower, has a 2-light window with wood lintel and lead cames, and a renewed window with a wood lintel. The attic has a metal casement fitted with a wrought-iron spring, under a wood lintel.

The rear (north-west) elevation has a 4-centred arched doorway, with a renewed door, giving access to the through passage. This doorway is flanked by a renewed 20th-century wood casement on the left and an 18th-century sash window on the right. The first floor has three sash windows. The lower part on the right has a panelled/glazed door and a 3-light window with a metal casement and wood lintels above it. A bread oven bulge is visible on the gable facing the road.

The interior retains the original plan of the hall, through passage, kitchen, and parlour. Walls are approximately 2 feet 5 inches thick. The hall, now ceiled over, has joists spanning from a spine beam to lateral wall beams. An inglenook fireplace in the hall has a wide opening with a chamfered bressumer, a bread oven, and an inserted 20th-century brick fireplace. A 16th-century stone fireplace with chamfered jambs is found in the parlour. Other features include a stud partition, a stop-chamfered beam, and a winder staircase. 17th-century additions included a fireplace and oven in the kitchen (formerly the buttery and pantry), and possibly the hall fireplace which backs onto the through passage. In the 18th century, the hall and kitchen walls were raised to create larger rooms above, an 18th-century staircase was inserted (likely replacing a 17th-century staircase), and the building was extended beyond the parlour to add a service room at the lower end. A 20th-century fireplace was inserted into the 17th-century hall fireplace. It is believed that Grange Farmhouse was built by Wroxton Abbey in connection with its landholdings at Balscote. In 1535, Richard Burden, a salaried official of the priory and general receiver of its rents, farmed Grange Farm.