The Old House

The Old House is a house, formerly Pynsent's School, founded in 1668, as indicated by a commemorative plaque. A rear left addition dates from the 19th and early 20th centuries, while the internal layout was altered in the late 20th century. The main fabric is whitewashed rendered stone with a slate roof, gabled at the ends. It has end stacks and a rear lateral stack serving the main range, alongside an end stack for the rear wing.

The main range is a single depth, three rooms wide. A rear door opposite the porch suggests a prior through-passage arrangement. The left portion contains a large room, seemingly formerly open to the roof, with a modern end stack. To the right of the porch are two rooms, one heated by the rear lateral stack, the other by the right end stack. A rear wing, at a right angle to the lateral stack, contains one room that may have been a kitchen in the late 17th century, and a parallel unheated wing likely served as service rooms. A further rear wing, at a right angle to the left end of the main range, is of two periods, with the end constructed of late 19th to early 20th century brick and used as flats. A late 20th century single-storey addition extends to the rear right of the main range.

The front of the house has an asymmetrical facade of three plus one plus three windows, featuring a central two-storey porch supported by granite columns with square capitals and bases. A late 17th century plank and cover strip door with strap hinges is set within a chamfered doorway with jewelled scroll stops. The windows are largely original; ground floor windows are four-light with square leaded panes, including one iron casement (with some 20th century repairs to some of those on the right), while the first floor has matching three-light windows. The front plaque is inscribed with a dedication from John Pinsent, stating that he “hath erected this for a free school and endowed it with Thirty Pounds Pannum (sil) Forever. 1668”, and previously displayed a coat of arms above the inscription, which has since been removed.

Inside, the lateral stack features an open fireplace with ashlar jambs and a replaced lintel below a relieving arch. The potential late 17th century kitchen contains a chamfered cross beam with scroll stops and an open fireplace with a single stone rubble jamb and replaced lintel. A 20th century staircase now occupies the position of the former passage. The roof space was not inspected, but principal rafters visible in the first floor rooms appear straight. The intact fenestration of the house contributes to the notable group value it shares with the adjacent church.