St Mary'S Close

St. Mary's Close is a house, now divided into two dwellings, dating from the mid-18th century, around 1730, with alterations made in the mid-19th century. The front is made of limestone ashlar with a rusticated ground floor, while the sides and rear are constructed from coursed rubble. The roof is hipped and covered with slate, featuring stone end stacks that are finished in brick. The building has a central-staircase plan and stands two storeys high with an attic, presenting a symmetrical five-window facade.

The entrance features a mid-19th century panelled double-leaf door with a fanlight, set within a keyed arch and an open-pedimented architrave supported by scroll brackets. The windows are mid-19th century plate-glass sashes, framed by keyed and raised architraves. A raised storey band and a moulded cornice lead to a parapet, while two hipped roof dormers contain 20th century three-light casements. At the rear, there is a mid-19th century extension for stairs that connects to a right wing featuring a late 19th century bay window.

Inside, the hall includes mid-18th century panelled doors set in fine pedimented architraves. The room to the left boasts fine fielded panelling and a fireplace with fluted pilasters and a bolection-moulded overmantle. The staircase, a fine dog-leg design with a landing, dates to around 1730 but was remodelled in the mid-19th century, featuring turned balusters and a ramped handrail. There are quarter-turn service stairs to the right.

On the first floor, the room to the right has a panelled dado and a panelled overmantle above a moulded stone fireplace. The right side features 17th century quartered chamfered beams. The butt-purlin roof is visible, and there is a two-window range from the 18th century on the right, which includes a six-panelled door and 19th century casements in raised architraves. A wing at right angles to the right side, built in the late 18th century with similar materials and a hipped roof, is one storey and attic high, with a three-window range that includes a 20th century door and casements, as well as gabled half dormers. The front has plank doors leading to a coach house, while the left side features Gothick two-light leaded casements and a panelled door with a Gothick overlight.