Granchen

A former kitchen wing of The Grange, dating to the early 18th century with later alterations. The building is constructed of local rubble stone, originally rendered, with Bath stone ashlar dressings and a hipped pantile roof. It has a rectangular plan.

The exterior features a triple arcade to the ground floor, with a central entrance. The elliptical arched openings have ashlar surrounds, moulded imposts, and keystones; these openings were later infilled with modern casement windows. A string course runs at first floor level, above which are three round windows with moulded surrounds and keystones at the cardinal points. The lower third of these windows has been infilled with rubble, while the swivelling windows retain old glass. The rear (garden) elevation is plainer and more altered, with modern windows. The east elevation has been altered.

The interior is now partially sub-divided. The ground floor features a large open hearth with an elliptical arch of moulded ashlar and a keystone. An extensive cellar is divided into two main sections with barrel-vaulted roofs, and contains original wine bins and a slate chopping block. The upper floor retains several early 19th century cast iron grates. The roof structure remains substantially intact.

The name 'Granchen' is a shortening of ‘Grange’ and ‘kitchen’, reflecting its original function as part of the separately-listed Grange. The arcaded south front was clearly intended as a display feature, and bears comparison to the garden house at Widcombe Manor.

The building was extensively refurbished in the 1960s and 1970s, including the addition of an eastern extension. While John Wood the Younger is believed to have occupied The Grange in the later 18th century, the front of Granchen is likely to be of an earlier date.