Moreton House

Moreton House is a mansion built between 1742 and 1745 by James Frampton, replacing an earlier house dating from around 1580. The building is composed of three distinct sections. The north-east wing, originally containing laundry and other service rooms, is a single storey with attics. The central block initially housed the kitchen, service rooms, and smaller bedrooms, and is two storeys with attics. The main house, also two storeys with an attic and basement, was extended to the east in 1779. The service ranges were constructed first and incorporate some materials from the earlier house.

The main house is constructed of ashlar stone with stone slate roofs, a moulded eaves cornice, and stone stacks. The west front, the principal façade, has a slightly projecting central section topped with a pediment containing a semicircular window. A central doorway has part-glazed doors and a fanlight set within a semicircular moulded arch, flanked by rusticated surrounds and double-hung sash windows. The ground floor has two double-hung sash windows with glazing bars, while the first floor has three similar windows. Two dormers with shallow gabled roofs and sashes with glazing bars are located in the attic. The east front from 1779 features a projecting central bay with three double-hung sash windows with glazing bars on each floor. Flanking this are two windows on each floor, some with double-hung sashes and glazing bars, and others blocked. Three dormers, matching those on the west front, are present in the attic.

Inside, most rooms retain contemporary cornices and panelled doors. A particularly fine ornamental ceiling is in the hall, with another from 1779 in the Drawing Room. Several contemporary fireplace surrounds are also present. Stone stairs feature a wrought iron balustrade. On the first-floor landing, a screen incorporating Ionic columns provides a visual feature.

The central block has walls constructed partly of rubble stone and partly of brick, with a roof originally stone slated, now partially replaced with tiles. It has a moulded eaves cornice on the west front and rendered stacks. The west front contains three double-hung sash windows with glazing bars on each floor. Windows in the north and east walls are mullioned, some likely re-used from the earlier structure. Dormers with gabled roofs top the attic. Some first-floor rooms retain 18th-century panelling. The central block is linked to the main house by a passageway, initially open at ground floor level, now infilled.

The north-east wing, now serving as outbuildings, has walls of rubble stone and brick, a tiled roof with stone eaves courses, and brick stacks. It features stone mullioned windows and cambered stone lintels over doorways, with hipped dormers in the attic. Moreton House is an important 18th-century house retaining many original features.