Orchard Hill House

Orchard Hill House is a late 18th or early 19th century suburban house with a mid-to-late 19th century extension to the north, complemented by mid-to-late 19th century outbuildings, gate piers, and gates. A late 20th century conservatory has been added to the west elevation but is not included in the listing.

The house is constructed of stone and covered in stucco, with timber sash and some casement windows, slate tile roofs, and stone chimney stacks. The lean-to structures on the north elevation have corrugated iron roofing. The plan is roughly square, with rooms arranged around a central stairwell. A rectangular two-storey outbuilding range stands to the north, linked to the house by a single-storey building.

The main house is two storeys high with a raised parapet and wooden cornice. The roof structure behind the parapet comprises two distinct hipped roof structures aligned on a west to east axis; the southern roof has two ridge stacks, while the northern has a lateral stack. The principal east elevation is arranged in three almost symmetrical bays, each with three eight-over-eight hornless sash windows on the first floor. An off-centre panelled doorway with an early 19th century door featuring margin glazing is sheltered by a wooden canopy supported on fluted Tuscan pilasters and columns, flanked by six-light windows. A mid-to-late 19th century square bay window with horned sashes has been inserted to the right, and to the left is a late 18th or early 19th century hornless sash window of eight-over-sixteen lights that extends to floor level. The south elevation has two tall sash windows in its outer bays; the central window has been blocked, and the first floor contains three late 18th or early 19th century sash windows. The north elevation features two single-storey lean-tos flanking a ground-floor recessed entrance.

Internally, a wide archway separates the hall from the stairwell, which is topped by a circular roof light. The open-string staircase features a curtail step and turned balusters. Behind the stairwell is an archway leading to a narrow passageway (repeated at first floor level), with the kitchen beyond. The two reception rooms on the south side have been enlarged, with visible scars of partition walls that once created a third room between them; the original window has been blocked. The new partition wall doors open immediately onto each other. The rear reception room retains its early 19th century French doors. The ground floor displays early 19th century panelled door cases with moulded architrave and floral motifs to the corner blocks, six-panelled doors, plaster cornices, panelled window shutters, and some 19th century fireplaces with grates removed. Picture rails and dado rails are late 19th century. The first floor contains early 19th century six-panel doors and mid-to-late 19th century four-panel doors, but lacks fireplaces and cornices.

The outbuildings are arranged around a cobbled courtyard. At the east end stands a single-storey building with a pitched roof and a single door to the east elevation. The west elevation has an inserted RSJ and mid-20th century sliding timber doors. The floor is both tiled and cobbled, with partition walls removed and a ceiling inserted. The mid-19th century two-storey outbuilding range runs on a west to east axis, featuring an arched central passageway from the courtyard to Orchard Hill. The west end contains the former stable door with a hayloft door above and a sixteen-light window to the left; the interior has a cobbled and concrete floor. The east end features an eight-over-eight sash window and a plank door to the possible former bake house, which retains its bread oven (stack removed at roof level) and copper. An inserted 20th century staircase accesses the first floor. The room at the east end has been opened up to its south elevation, with evidence of a former doorway to its east wall. The principal roof trusses of the outbuilding are mid-19th century, with 20th century common rafters and ridge piece and a 20th century roof light. At the east end of the courtyard, linking the outbuilding with the house, is a coped stone wall and gate piers with iron gates, with a pedestrian doorway to the north section of the wall.