Langley House

Langley House is a country house dating from the 1780s, built for R. Ashe. It is constructed of squared rubble stone with white lime joints, ashlar dressings, a hipped stone slate roof, and ashlar stacks. The house is square, with a formal five-window west front and a six-window south front. Architectural details include an ashlar plinth, band, moulded cornice, parapet, and rusticated quoins. The windows are sash windows with 12 panes on the main floors and 9 panes on the upper floor; the west front’s main floor windows and the south front’s ground floor windows have shutters. The central door on the west front is an 8-panel door set within a Roman Doric, pedimented doorcase. The east side features a one-window range to the left and a two-window range to the right, with two large central stair-lights. Steps lead down to a basement door. The north side has a one-window range facing north, with a set-back section and a further one-window range facing west. Attached to the north is a lower kitchen range with a hipped valley roof and long north-side windows. Extending east from the east end of the kitchens is a low, single-storey and attic range, with a ridge stack, cyma-moulded flush mullion windows, and various depressed-arched openings. This range, along with a high, coped wall extending eastwards to the stable block, encloses a rear service court. The wall includes a blocked large arched opening adjoining the house and continues for approximately 32 metres east.

The interior appears largely unaltered with original moulded plaster cornices. The south-west dining room has panelling to the walls, the south-east drawing room has dado panelling, and fielded panelled doors are present throughout. The entrance hall features a two-arched screen leading to a two-bay, plaster-vaulted cross-passage and a stair-hall beyond. The staircase has moulded brackets, turned balusters, and a moulded rail.

The Langley estate was purchased by Henry White in 1601 and later sold around 1655 to Samuel Ashe, a clothier from Freshford. The Ashe family has owned the estate since. The house is closely linked to the Reverend Francis Kilvert, as his father was appointed rector of Langley Burrell by Robert Ashe (a cousin of Mrs. Kilvert) in 1855.