Orchard House

Orchard House is a house dating to around 1635, as indicated by the inscription "ICT/ R" on the chimney. It is constructed of roughly coursed limestone rubble, with roughcast rendering on the front wall, and has a stone slate roof. A limestone rubble stack with a brick chimney is also present. The house originally comprised two main units arranged in a lobby-entry plan. It has two storeys and an attic, with a three-window front. The current entrance is located in the right-hand wing; the original entrance was likely in the centre of the front wall. A single window on the first floor retains its original ovolo-moulded lintel and a two-light wood-mullioned casement. Other windows now have C20 three-light casements on the ground floor and two-light casements on the first floor and in the attic, all with moulded lintels. The roof is gabled, with two cross gables facing the front and a ridge stack. A chamfered timber lintel covers a restored C17 one-light window on the left-hand wall, and the rear wall features timber lintels over C20 casements and blocked window openings. A projecting, two-and-a-half-storey gabled stair turret is situated at the centre of the rear elevation. Internally, C19 six-panelled doors are found throughout. The left room has C19 panelled shutters and a C20 bressumer over an open fireplace with chamfered stone jambs and an overmantel with arcaded panelling. Flanking the fireplace is green-painted C17 panelling and a chamfered beam with elaborate stops. Elaborate early C17 plasterwork in the form of jewelled strapwork decorates the ceiling. The right room features a chamfered and stopped beam and a chamfered bressumer over an open fireplace. A C17 plank door leads to the newel stairs. The first-floor left room contains a mid-C19 fireplace and grate, along with a chamfered and stopped beam. C17 panelled shutters are found at a blocked window to the far right. A C17 plank door provides access to the attic. To the right of the original house stands an 18th-century two-storey, gabled block constructed of similar materials with a brick gable end stack. This block has a two-window range of C20 casements, a mid-C19 porch, and a C20 door with a pilastered architrave. The interior of this addition was remodelled in the late 20th century. Later C20 extensions have been added to the front right, against the right gable wall, and to the rear, adjoining a much altered mid-C19 outshut. The jewelled strapwork ceiling is comparable to that at Holywell House, Shellingford, and thought to be by the same school of craftsmen.