Warleigh House

Warleigh House is a country house, now used as a nursing home, and formerly the seat of the Radcliffe family. The core of the house dates back to the 16th century, with earlier stone-vaulted cellars beneath the north wing. It was significantly refashioned between 1825 and 1832 by John Foulston, during which time the north-west wing was built. The building is constructed of stone, now roughcast with ashlar detailing, and has a slate gabled roof. It is arranged on an "E-shaped" plan with additional wings to the north and north-west. The facade has two and a half storeys and a 1:2:1:2:1 bay arrangement, with flanking one-bay wings and a central three-storey porch, all gabled. Early 19th-century sash windows are fitted with Gothick square hoodmolds. A large, moulded granite four-centred arch doorway features carved spandrels and arms in relief within the tympanum; the inner door is also granite with carved spandrels. Moulded lead rainwater heads, downpipes, and guttering are present. The north-west wing, built at the rear circa 1825-32, has embattled parapets and Gothick windows. A long, two-storey, six-bay rear wing extends across the north side, featuring 16th-century two and three-light granite mullion windows with four-centered arch lights and hoodmoulds, and moulded granite doorways with carved spandrels. The chapel, located at the east end of this wing, has a 19th-century Perpendicular traceried window in its gable end. The interior retains a two-storeyed hall, featuring a wide, moulded granite fireplace; this area was remodelled in the 18th century with a moulded plaster frieze and cornice, and a wooden balustrade to a gallery. There are two moulded granite four-centred arch doorways leading to a screen passage. A wide, 18th-century dogleg staircase rises from the hall, with moulded string balusters, a moulded handrail ramped up to square newels, and a fielded panel dado. A circular lantern provides light to the staircase well, which is finished with a modillion cornice. The north-west room contains a Gothick marble chimneypiece and cornice. The library in the south-east wing has bolection-moulded panelling and a plaster cornice that breaks forward over the chimney breast, accompanied by an early 19th-century chimney piece. The kitchen wing on the north-east side features very wide, moulded four-centered arch fireplaces and service doorways, one incorporating an old nail-studded door. Stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops are also present.