Lower Court Farmhouse

Lower Court Farmhouse is probably a manor house dating to around 1700, built for the Osbaldeston family. It was altered in the mid to late 18th century, possibly for the Baynton family, and again in the 19th century. The house is constructed of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings, and has Stonesfield-slate roofs with ashlar gable stacks. It has a double-depth plan and originally presented a symmetrical five-window front, which has since been altered to a three-window arrangement by blocking the outer pairs of openings. The remaining windows have tall 19th-century casements under stone lintels, although the original rubble flat arches remain. The fine original stone doorcase contains a six-panel door with an overlight; it features a segmental-arched inner architrave with a projecting keyblock, set between panelled pilasters that support a large segmental pediment. A “Sun” insurance plaque is set within the tympanum. The rear elevation has a similarly altered arrangement of windows, with a plain doorway. The steep-pitched, double-span roof has paired stacks with plinths and moulded caps, and three dormers on each side. A T-shaped, single-story service range extends from the right and forwards.

The interior retains original features, including heavy cornices and some bolection-mould panelled doors. The entrance hall has bolection-mould dado and architraves, a chimney-piece with full-height fluted pilasters and a Doric entablature, and a fine oak open-well staircase rising to the attic. The staircase has a closed string, heavy barley-twist balusters, and a square handrail with a moulded capping. Fielded-panelled doors and dados likely date from the mid to late 18th century. The rear drawing room displays an elaborate Rococo-style ceiling and pelmets, possibly from the early 19th century, although two fine Adam-style doorcases with mahogany panelled doors may be earlier. Two plain early 18th-century fireplaces survive; one has a re-used 17th-century carved-oak overmantel incorporating a cartouche of arms. The house was formerly the manor house of Chadlington West.