Esperanza

This is a farmhouse, now a house, dating back to the 16th century. It was remodelled in the 18th century, as evidenced by a tie-beam dated 1788 found in the former cheese-loft, with later alterations. The farmhouse is constructed of rubble, partially rendered on the west side, with pantiled roofs to the west and double pantiled roofs with stone slates to the east. It has gable stacks. The building follows a through-passage plan and comprises three blocks: a two-and-a-half-storey block to the west; a central block of two-and-a-half storeys; and a single-storey, pitched-roof wing to the right. The fenestration is 1:2:1. On the west side, the ground floor has a 16-pane sash window in an exposed box, set under a timber lintel. A 3-light casement with iron stanchions is in the left gable. The central block features 19th-century 12-pane sashes in exposed boxes. To the right is a 3-light unglazed window with timber mullions, frame, and lintel. A gabled porch on the right of the left block features a wooden basket arched head, which incorporates carved timber with scrolled ends reputedly from the wreckage of a Spanish ship called Esperanza. It has 2-light diamond mullioned windows with leaded lights on each side and a door with two moulded panels in a heavy frame. The west side retains some stone slates remaining at the eaves and has a 20th-century door. The rear elevation has a 3-light casement under a timber lintel at ground floor west, a similar 2-light casement above, and a 20th-century door where the original through passage door would have been. A projecting gabled wing has a ground-floor 3-light casement under a timber lintel, a 2-light casement to the east, and a 3-light casement above. An 19th-century 2-light window is in the gable. The east wing has a door and two windows, all under timber lintels; a 2-light window is on the ground floor, and an opening only is at the upper level. A well is located in the rear courtyard. The interior includes a large fireplace with an 18th-century dentilled overmantel backing on to the through passage, formerly incorporating a salmon-smoking oven. A change in ceiling level marks the position of a former wall and the space is now a single room with an 18th-century dentilled overmantel to a smaller fireplace. There is a chinoiserie ventilation panel to the side of a cupboard to the left and a cupboard to the right with shaped shelves. All internal doors are of two panels. 18th-century shutters are to the right of the through passage; plank shutters are to the rear windows on the west side. A 20th-century winder stair is in its original position to the left of the through passage. The west block has smoke-blackened principals in the roof over the former hall, and major roof principals of early date over the east block were remodelled in the 18th century.