Roberts House

Roberts House is a detached house that was originally a group of cottages. The eastern wing likely dates from the late 16th or early 17th century, with a substantial addition built in the mid to late 17th century by John Roberts, a well-known Quaker who died in 1683. The house was restored in the late 20th century. It is constructed of rubble stone with a stone slate roof, with a rear internal angle covered in plain tiles. Brick end stacks are present. The building is arranged in an “L” shape, with two gables on the east side of the older section and the main front facing north-east on the later addition, and has an attic. The main façade has four windows, featuring 2-light stone mullion and transom windows with a continuous dripmould on both the ground and first floors. Four gabled dormers, each incorporating a large, moulded wooden pediment and twin leaded casements, light the attic. Four small oval windows within rectangular frames are set into the right-hand return. A projecting two-storey stair tower features a 2-light stone mullion and transom window on each floor. The older wing to the east has a large central gable on its north side. A doorway was originally located to the right of this wing, but has now been relocated to the center. The original door’s timber lintel remains to the right. Above the door is a four-light wood mullion and a renewed 2-light casement in the attic. Scattered metal casements are found on the east side. The building incorporates 17th-century lead rainwater goods brought from another location. The interior, while much altered, has been sympathetically restored and retains part of the original staircase with carved flat balusters. The extension built by John Roberts features very large chamfered beams with carved stops (run-out stops) on both the ground and first floors.