The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory is a large house dating to 1689-90, originally built as a rectory for Dr. Robert South. It was restored in 1807 for Dean Vincent and enlarged in the 19th century. The building is constructed of squared limestone with ashlar dressings and has a Stonesfield-slate roof with ashlar gable stacks.

The front overlooking the garden presents a symmetrical 5-window facade, featuring chamfered rusticated quoins and keyblock arches (segmental at ground floor). The windows are 12-pane sashes, and the central glazed door is topped by a canopy supported on richly carved console brackets. The double-span roof has a 19th or 20th-century cornice, gable parapets, and two hipped dormers from the 18th century. A two-storey, two-window range was added in the 19th century, also with segmental-arched sashes and a central glazed door. A lead downpipe to the left of the main door has an elaborate hopperhead bearing the inscription "RS/DD" above the date 1689. The left gable wall of the main block has a sundial set into the parapet wall, linking the chimneys.

The rear of the original range now serves as the main entrance, and features a three-window arrangement of segmental-arched cross windows with leaded glass. A small oval window is located to the left of a low doorway, inserted into the right window opening. This doorway leads to an old six-panel door with a canopy similar to that on the front facade. The roof here has a moulded wooden cornice, possibly original, and three hipped dormers. A 19th-century single-bay extension is attached to the right. A short range projecting to the left connects to the tithe barn and has a tall cross window and a doorway with a similar canopy.

Inside, a broad late 17th-century dogleg staircase rises to a first floor, with barleytwist balusters. Secondary dogleg staircases at either end of the spine passage lead to attics with turned balusters and are likely from the early 18th century. The dining room includes oak bolection-mould panelling, believed to be from the early 20th century. Three heavy, 4-centre arched, chamfered wooden doorframes in the cellar may be from an earlier structure. The house was historically occupied by several Deans of Westminster, who held the living in plurality.