Ashwood

Ashwood is a large house, built in 1929 by M H Baillie Scott in the Arts and Crafts style, and later used as a children’s home. The main part of the house is constructed of brown brick in English bond, featuring large diaper patterns created with black brick. The service wing has a brick ground floor and an eclectic timber-framed upper floor with rendered infill. The roof is tiled, with tall brick chimneystacks. The main house is roughly H-shaped, with two to three storeys and irregular window placement, principally casement windows with leaded lights, though there are also five pointed arched windows and a circular window with six triangular panes of stained glass; some windows have lost their leaded lights. The front elevation has three projecting gables, including a two-storey entrance porch with a datestone. There is a sandstone four-centred arched doorcase and triple pointed sidelights with stained glass. A brown brick wall with two gatepiers and a wooden gate separates the principal rooms from the service wing. The service wing has two projecting gables, casement windows with leaded lights, and a plank door under a penticed hood. The rear elevation of the main part is symmetrical, with two end projecting gables, attached brick conservatories, and loggias. Hipped dormers are set within a recessed central section. The interior retains very high quality Arts and Crafts style features and fittings, including oak panelling and decorative joinery to the hallway, landing, and principal rooms; decorative joinery to the chimneypieces; and a carved screen. Decorative plaster ceilings were designed by J C Pocock for all principal rooms. Fireplaces include a stone four-centred arched fireplace with a Jacobean style carved overmantel, and one with blue and white tiles.