Church Gate

House, probably a church house, dating from the 16th century with some 20th-century renovations. The building is constructed of stone rubble with a gabled roof at the ends, slate covering the front of the ridge and thatch to the rear. A thatched lean-to extends from the right end. End stacks are present, with the left end stack shaft built of Beerstone ashlar mixed with grey freestone (modern brick repair at the top), and the right end stack featuring a larger shaft of similar construction with a moulded cornice.

The plan form is exceptionally interesting historically. The building comprises a single-depth range with heated rooms to the left and right. The left-hand room is a high-quality parlour, while the right-hand room was probably a kitchen. At the centre is an unheated service room positioned behind an axial passage running along the front, with an original central entrance into the axial passage. No evidence survives of an original internal stair, but two blocked first-floor doorways on the front suggest external staircases once existed, leading to what may have been one or two large rooms on the first floor serving some communal function. Later alterations moved the front door to the right of centre and created a through passage between the kitchen and service room. A 20th-century stair was introduced, leading off the axial passage and partly cutting through the service room; the first floor has been repartitioned. Despite these changes, the original plan form is remarkably complete for a church house.

The exterior presents two storeys. The front elevation is tall and asymmetrical with four windows. A rustic porch on posts (20th-century replacement) sits to the right of centre, with a 20th-century plank front door. The original doorway to the left of the present door has been blocked and converted to a window. To the far left is a single-light 16th-century window with a hollow-chamfered Beerstone frame. To the right of the porch, straight joints indicate a blocked window. On the first floor are two blocked doorways to left and right of centre; at the extreme left a three-light timber mullioned window with external glazing. Three probably 20th-century windows occupy the centre and right. The rear elevation features a good-quality 16th-century three-light Beerstone mullioned window lighting the parlour, with hollow-chamfered mullions, stanchions, and leaded panes, some old and retaining original glass.

The interior is very rich in carpentry and joinery. The central unheated service room is formed by tall oak plank and muntin screens. The left and right screens extend to the front wall with original chamfered doorframes with cranked lintels leading into the parlour and (formerly) into the kitchen. The service room is entered from the axial passage through a similar doorframe; a massive deep-chamfered crossbeam with scroll stops runs through the screen above the doorframe. The parlour at the left end has richly-moulded intersecting beams to the ceiling. A probably late 17th-century turned vertical post has been added at the centre of the room, presumably to provide additional support to the ceiling. A 20th-century fireplace is present, possibly concealing earlier features. The kitchen has a massive, partly blocked fireplace retaining an early lintel; a doorway adjacent to the stack leading into the lean-to has a stone segmental lintel. The first floor features a set of chamfered stopped crossbeams.

The roof was not inspected at the time of survey but is quite likely to be contemporary with the building. Church Gate is sited immediately north-west of the parish church, and its specialised plan form, rich carpentry detail, and position within an outstanding estate village make it of particular importance.