Warmwell House

Warmwell House is a manor house situated within its grounds, dating primarily to the early 17th century, likely constructed shortly after 1618 by Sir John Trenchard. Evidence suggests the southeast portion incorporates remnants of an earlier building, while the northwest wing underwent significant alterations in the 18th and 19th centuries. The south part of the house was restored in the early and mid-19th century. The house is built of coursed limestone rubble with an ashlar facing to the south front. The roofs are covered with a mix of stone slates and tiles, with gables at the ends of the ranges and Dutch gables to the southeast. Square stone stacks are present on the gable copings, with two per gable, and circular stacks rising from the step of the Dutch gables. The plan is an unusual triviadial design, with the main entrance located in the southeast between two projecting wings.

The southeast front has a symmetrical arrangement of windows, with groupings of 3:2:2:3, a front of 3:2:4:2:5, and gables of 2:3:2 (one blocked). The windows feature chamfered stone mullions, with transoms on the ground floor. A moulded plinth and string courses run above the window openings. Windows are fitted with iron casements and glazing-bars. A recessed porch is centrally positioned, framed by an arcade of two round arches enriched and partly moulded, springing from a Tuscan central column and attached half columns. The arcade is framed with half columns and a depressed entablature, surmounted by a tablet carved with the Richards crest. The inner doorway has a four-centred head, continuous stop-chamfered jambs, and is flanked by shell-headed niches. The northeast end of the house is irregular, displaying three straight-sided gables at varying angles. A staircase wing beneath the central gable has a doorway with a four-centred head and mullioned windows, mostly restored. The northwest wing’s eastern wall has been patched and heightened using 18th-century brick, with a rendered stack at its gable end; it is two storeys high with three windows, 2-light, with moulded labels dating to the early 19th century. A reset C17 doorway is recessed behind an archway.

Inside, a reset stone archway, C17, semi-circular and enriched with reset details springing from enriched imposts, divides the entrance hall from the stair hall; the jambs are moulded with three rolls, likely of medieval origin. The main staircase is constructed of stone with stone balustrading, between rectangular piers supporting columns that carry the upper floor. The dining room contains a late 16th-century oak fireplace with flanking terminal figures and an enriched mantel shelf, the panelled surround is ornamented with winged terminal figures, two holding shields, the centre panel contains a small picture. The Oak Room features reset C17 panelling, while the fireplace has a restored arched stone head, flanked by pairs of oak Ionic columns. The long gallery has early 17th-century panelling with an enriched frieze and a modern cornice. Doorways are framed with moulded oak. The Drawing Room was remodelled in the early 19th century.