The Retreat

The Retreat is a detached house dating from the mid-19th century, with later mid-20th century, late-20th century, and early-21st century additions and alterations. The house is constructed of coursed, squared rubble under a slate roof, with brick and rendered end chimneystacks. The original windows are mid-19th century horned wooden sashes with glazing bars. The plan is accretional, comprising the original mid-19th century house and a number of mid- and late-20th century and 21st century additions to the rear, which are excluded from the listing.

The principal north-facing elevation is symmetrically composed, featuring a central entrance with a 20th-century open porch and a six-panelled door. This is flanked by sash windows with continuous timber lintels, with three matching windows at first floor. The ground and first floors of the west return have a narrow sash window, offset from the chimney. The rear elevation of the original house is obscured by 20th and 21st century extensions. The east gable wall has a ground-floor sash window, and two cast-iron tie plates are at attic level.

The front door leads into a small hall with mid-20th century timber panelling, a straight staircase with a square newel post, moulded cap, straight wooden balusters and a plain handrail, and doorways to the two principal ground-floor rooms. Most of the doors in the original part of the house are four-panelled, though the doors leading from the entrance hall are six-panelled. The architraves are a mixture of mid-19th and late-20th century styles. Fireplaces in the two front principal rooms have been blocked, and the ceilings have reused timber beams. Doorways at the southern end of each room lead to a second hallway, and then to the later rear additions. A 1930s addition includes a sitting room with a fireplace featuring a four-centred stone surround, moulded jambs, and a brick and tile inset. Late-19th century single-piece cast-iron fire surrounds and grates are in two bedrooms on the original part of the house. The bedrooms in the later rear additions have no historic fittings. The mid-19th century roof structure comprises king post principals with angled struts and common rafters, some of which have been renewed.

Excluded from the listing are the mid-20th and late-20th century two-storey rear extensions, the rear conservatory, and the detached garage and workshop to the south-east.