Dales House

Dales House is a house with origins dating back to the early 16th century, significantly remodelled in the 17th century, likely in two phases. The external walls are colourwashed and rendered, likely built on cob with stone rubble footings, and have a thatched roof, gabled at the ends. The south end of the roof has been re-covered with slate. End and axial stacks are present.

The house originally had a three-room plan with a through passage, with the lower end to the north. It is believed to have started as a late medieval open hall house. It was probably floored in two stages. Initially, a chamber was built above the lower end, jetting into the hall, before the hall stack was added, and the hall itself was floored around the mid-17th century. The lower end likely remained unheated until the late 18th or 19th century.

The front of the house is asymmetrical, featuring a four-window façade. A 20th-century thatched porch, supported by posts, sits on the front. An 18th or early 19th-century panelled front door leads to the through passage, situated to the right of centre. Windows are predominantly 2- and 3-light timber casements with two panes per light, although a 20th-century metal-framed window is on the ground floor to the left.

The interior is notable for its 16th and 17th-century carpentry and joinery. A plank and muntin screen is located at the lower side of the passage, previously having two doorways to the lower end room which was subsequently sub-divided. One original doorframe with a crank-headed arch remains. A section of medieval plank and muntin screen is present on the higher side of the passage, featuring a chamfered doorframe and a likely 17th-century door. The stair has been altered in the 20th century and now rises from the passage parallel to the rear wall of the hall. The hall displays high-quality circa mid-17th century crossbeams, chamfered with bar stops, a plank and muntin screen on the higher side with chamfered muntins, and an open fireplace with a chamfered timber lintel. The lower end has a chamfered timber crossbeam, which has been reduced in size. The inner room was not accessible during a 1987 survey.

The roof features side-pegged jointed cruck trusses, with visible smoke-blackening on the cruck feet, indicative of a former medieval open hearth. An inspection of the roof apex would likely provide further details on the house's development.

Dales House is an evolved building, retaining a historic plan form and a wealth of interior carpentry and joinery. It forms a group with Bakers Farmhouse and Bakers Dairy opposite.