Kentisbury Grange

Kentisbury Grange is a late 19th-century house, dated 1894 (as indicated by a datestone). It is constructed of unrendered dressed slate stone rubble with ashlar dressings, and has a hipped slate roof with crested ridge tiles and hip finials. A moulded ashlar cornice runs along the top of the house. Stone rubble stacks are located at each end of the main range and axially, although they were lowered in the 20th century. Corbelled first-floor lateral stacks project from the outer face of the rear right-hand wing.

The house's plan features an off-centre entrance hall with a stairhall to the rear, a principal room to the left, and two principal rooms to the right, which have been combined into one. A service wing projects at right angles from the rear right-hand side, forming an L-shaped plan. A small, single-storey service range and a stone rubble wall to the rear of the main range create a small rear courtyard.

The front façade has a 4-window range featuring pairs of mullioned windows with 3- and 2-light sashes and 2-paned glass. The ground floor windows are transomed, incorporating a leaded glazing pattern in the upper parts of the lights, and have stone relieving arches. The mullions are ovolo-moulded, with large bar-stops at the base of the jambs. Six patterned tiles are positioned below the cornice band, flanking the upper-storey windows.

A four-centred arched stone doorway has a heavily moulded surround, terminating in large bar stops, and a labelled hoodmould with a grotesque head keystone above the stepped overlight. The doorway is framed by an ovolo-moulded timber surround, and contains a heavy plank door with cover strips and wrought iron strap hinges. A slate sundial sits above the doorway and features a carved ashlar pedimented surround with a moulded entablature, displaying the 1894 date. Two small blind ovals with keystones are located at the right end of the main range, flanking a projecting stack with set-offs.

The interior of the house retains its original layout and high-quality fittings, with the exception of a partition wall that has been removed between the two right-hand rooms. Features include 6-panelled doors, ½-glazed inner hall doorways with stained glass overlights, marble chimney-pieces, window shutters, a principal dog-leg staircase with heavy square section newels topped by acorn finials, tapered fluted balusters with open fretwork, a moulded string, and a handrail. A secondary servants staircase is in the rear wing, featuring turned balusters. The principal staircase is covered by a panelled plasterwork ceiling above a 4-light window with decorative stained glass by Born of Birmingham, the coving flowing into a decorative geometrical plasterwork ceiling over the stair landing.

Kentisbury Grange is a fine late Victorian house, notable for its unusual combination of Tudor and classical details in a near-symmetrical exterior. It was built by Mr. Openshaw, a Manchester cotton merchant and a relative of the rector of Kentisbury, who founded the north aisle in Kentisbury Church.