Ashton House

Ashton House

A substantial house with attached cottage on the west side of Steeple Ashton High Street. The building originated as a hall house of around 1400, underwent alterations and additions in the 16th century, was refronted in 1724 by the Stileman family, and was extensively extended and restored in 1924 by Sir Harold Brakspear for Mr. Harding Tyler.

The main front is constructed of limestone ashlar facing timber-framed ranges beneath a double-roman tiled roof with stone stacks finished with moulded cappings. The façade is two storeys with five bays. A central six-panelled door is set in a moulded architrave with a scrolled pediment on consoles and an acanthus-leaf ball finial. Two cross windows flank the door on the ground floor. Chamfered quoins frame the façade, with a lintel string course running across. The first floor contains five 12-pane sash windows with panelled aprons beneath a moulded stone cornice that rises to a high parapet featuring blind windows and panels. Lead rainwater goods dated 1724 bear the initials CS for Christian Stileman.

A 1924 single-storey service extension in matching style is attached to the right, with two bays and lead rainwater heads dated 1924/AMHT. The right return features 2-light mullioned casements to the first floor. The rear of the main range reveals square-panelled timber-framing with a 3-light cyma-mullioned casement, an oriel hall window, and a planked door to the right, with a 3-light wood mullioned casement to the first floor above.

The long 1924 rear wing is constructed of rubble stone with a stone slate roof. It contains planked doors to left and right, mullioned casements and bull's-eye windows at ground and first-floor levels, and a central cylindrical projecting stair turret with a conical roof. The south side of this wing features a three-bay loggia at its west end with similar fenestration.

The interior contains a three-bay open hall with a 16th-century stone stack inserted in the north bay. The fireplace displays a Tudor-arched surround, cornice and herringbone brick backing. The roof features a fine arch-braced collar truss with moulded soffits, two tiers of curved windbracing, and a restored carved and brattished wall plate. The solar on the south side originally comprised four bays, though its east bay was partly truncated by the 1724 front. It retains an arch-braced collar truss roof with moulded soffits and two tiers of windbracing to chamfered purlins; the truss at the west end was altered to a tie-beam truss in the 20th century. A 16th-century timber-framed partition and inserted fireplace remain in place.

An entrance hall added to the east side of the hall in the early 16th century features heavily-moulded cross-beamed ceilings with exposed joists, and a moulded stone fireplace with depressed arch and cornice. Sixteenth-century framed newel stairs with turned balusters, closed string and square newels provide access to the first floor. The first-floor chamber above is similarly detailed with moulded cross beams and a depressed arched stone fireplace. Traces of wall painting survive above a planked door leading to a 16th-century gallery inserted along the east side of the hall.

A 16th-century cottage is attached to the left of the front. It has rendered timber-framing beneath a double-roman tiled roof with a grouped brick stack to the right. The cottage is two storeys with one bay on the front elevation. A 19th-century panelled door stands to the right, with a 16-pane sash to the left and a 3-light leaded casement to the first floor. The rear contains an outshut with hipped dormer. The interior features a winding stair beside the stack.