Catchfrench Manor

Catchfrench Manor

A house now in multiple occupation, probably of early 18th-century origin, partly built on the site of an earlier house. It was remodelled in the late 18th century, with alterations and additions dating to 1914 and later periods.

The building is constructed of slatestone rubble with roughcast rendering and some brick. It has a hipped mansard roof with plain tiles, ridge tiles, and rendered stacks.

The plan is overall U-shaped, with the wings facing south and the entrance front to the west. The main range is single depth, with principal rooms along the garden front to the north. The original front entrance appears to have been centrally placed on the south side, with projecting wings to right and left facing the courtyard and the ruins of the old house.

The entrance front consists of one storey and attic in a symmetrical 1:1:1 bay arrangement with a central porch tower and one bay to right and left. The central two-storey porch tower rises above roof level through the eaves, with a parapet topped by a band and coping. Below this is a four-centred arched doorway with wide chamfer, a 20th-century panelled door, sidelights and fanlight. To right and left are four-centred arched 12-pane sashes. A modillion cornice runs across, with two flat-roofed dormers each containing 12-pane sashes. Rendered stacks with cornices on the ridge sit to right and left of the porch tower.

The right side of the entrance front forms part of the U-plan, with four central bays and wings to right and left. The leftmost central bay has an early 20th-century addition of two storeys featuring a round-arched arcade at ground floor and two 8-pane sashes at first floor, with parapet and coping. The three bays to the right have four-centred arched 12-pane sashes with sidelights. The ground floor contains two four-centred arched recesses with 9-pane lights and sidelights, one formerly serving as a door. A 20th-century door stands to the right, with a slate sundial set above it; the gnomon is dated 1716 and bears the inscription "Quotidie morior". A modillion cornice extends across.

The wing to the left rises two storeys above basement and ground floor, with four-centred arched sashes (6-pane at basement, 12-pane at ground floor). Above is a wide flat-roofed dormer containing a 12-pane sash with 8-pane sashes as sidelights, topped by a modillion cornice. The end wing to the right has a 16-pane sash at ground floor and 12-pane sash at first floor, with a single-storey 20th-century addition featuring a ramped parapet to the inner side, a 20th-century door, 4-pane sash and 2-light casement.

The left side forms the garden front, with three bays to right and left of a central canted bay extending through two storeys with a gable above. Throughout this facade, the basement is lit by four-centred arched 6-pane sashes, the ground floor by four-centred arched 12-pane sashes. Three flat-roofed dormers on left and right each contain 12-pane sashes, and two 12-pane sashes light the central gable. A 20th-century door has been inserted in the right ground floor window. The rear elevation consists of three bays with a modillion cornice and sashes and three flat-roofed dormers as at the left side. The left wing of the U-plan has a 16-pane sash at ground floor and 12-pane sash at first floor.

The interior was not accessible at the time of survey in August 1986.