Westacott Farmhouse

Westacott Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating from the late 18th century. It is constructed of rendered stone rubble with a slate roof, hipped to either side and gabled to the rear wings, where the slate has been grouted. The house has two original axial brick stacks to the front range, featuring a moulded cornice and dripcourse, and a projecting rendered rubble stack with a brick shaft to the gable end of the left-hand wing. The plan features principal rooms in the front range, with one room either side of a central stairhall. Behind the left-hand room is a kitchen, and a probable unheated service wing is behind the right-hand room.

The symmetrical front facade has three windows, and likely features original three-light, small-paned casements with H-L hinges; some have projecting keystones above. A central, pedimented doorcase has reeded pilasters, and an original six-panel door with applied panel strips. There is a rectangular fanlight above the door. The left-hand rear wing has original hornless 12-pane sashes on the ground floor, and casements above. The right-hand rear wing has similar casements. A lean-to porch sits between the two rear wings.

Inside, several original six-panel doors remain. Those to the principal rooms from the hall have moulded and dentilled cornices to their architraves. The left-hand room has panelled shutters, with a carved flower in the central panel, and an alcove with an arched head and pilasters adjoining its fireplace. The kitchen has an open fireplace with dressed stone jambs. The original closed string staircase has chamfered square balusters, turned newels with ball finials. On the first floor, the left-hand room has a pedimented doorcase, and the right-hand room has an original chimney-piece with a classical frieze. A cupboard on the landing has an arched head with projecting keystones and reeded pilasters.

Westacott Farmhouse, though not a large building, was clearly built by farmers of some means and includes surprisingly good quality features. It incorporates fragmentary 17th-century plasterwork and woodwork from Dunsland House, which was destroyed by fire in the mid-20th century. The plan and exterior of the house remain remarkably unaltered.