The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory, Withington

A former rectory, now house. The building comprises three principal sections spanning from the 14th century to the early 19th century: a 14th-century wing in random dressed limestone, an early 18th-century central body in ashlar, and a late 18th-century to early 19th-century stable block in coursed squared and dressed limestone. The structure is roofed in stone slate with stone and artificial stone stacks.

The plan is U-shaped, with an early 18th-century open range forming the centre, a 14th-century hall range on the west, and a late 18th-century to early 19th-century stable block on the east, creating a three-sided courtyard. A 19th-century extension extends to the right gable end of the late 18th-century range, standing outside the courtyard.

The 14th-century range is two storeys with a flat-chamfered plinth. The east wall, facing the courtyard, was refaced in the mid to late 16th century. The courtyard-facing elevation features a three-light hollow-chamfered, stone-mullioned casement with 4-centred arched heads and carved spandrels at first-floor level, with similar two and three-light casements below. All windows contain hexagonal leaded panes and stanchions. The gable end was refaced in the early 19th century to match the gable end of the stable block. A central six-panel door opens to the ground floor, with a 12-pane sash with horns above, and a bull's-eye window with radiating glazing bars in the attic. The left-hand return, facing the churchyard, has two two-light double-chamfered stone-mullioned casements and one flat-chamfered two-light stone-mullioned casement at ground level, with a two-light and a three-light late 18th-century to early 19th-century stone-mullioned casement at first-floor level, plus a single light with double-chamfered surround to the right.

The early 18th-century central range is symmetrical, two storeys, and five windows wide. The first floor has 12-pane sashes with horns. The focal point is a central 18th-century door with decorative fielded panelling, reached by six stone steps and crowned with a triangular pediment on consoles. Two 12-pane sashes flank the door, with four-pane cellar lights beneath each ground floor window. A central stairs projection with a round-headed stair light protrudes from the rear wall. The range has hipped gable ends and a hipped roof, with later lateral and axial stacks, some with moulded cappings, and flat gable end coping with roll-cross saddles.

The stable block, forming the eastern side, is two storeys with an attic. The courtyard-facing wall is blank. The gable end mirrors that of the 14th-century range but substitutes a 12-pane sash in place of a door. The right-hand wall features 20th-century wood-mullioned cross windows with leaded panes and timber lintels. Five hipped dormers light the attic.

Internally, the 14th-century range retains a formerly open hall at its north end with three bays. The hall is spanned by probably two-bay solar arch-braced collar beam trusses with moulded soffits. Double flat-chamfered through purlins with flat chamfers run across the span, with intermediary principal rafters positioned between the braced trusses. A floor with a moulded spine beam was inserted in the 15th century. A wall dividing the solar from the hall exposes curving 'V' struts rising from the tie beam to the collar, with similar curving struts running from collar to principal rafters. The late 18th-century range contains an open wall staircase with a column on vase balusters, a wreathed handrail, and a curtail step, with fielded panelling applied to the staircase dado. Most ground floor skirtings, architraves and doors were reused from The Grange in Hampshire, as were several marble fireplaces found on both ground and first floors. A well is located at the east end. The early 19th-century stable block retains original hay baskets set into recesses; its first floor and attic have been subsequently converted to residential use.

The 14th-century range may originally have functioned as a hall belonging to the Bishops of Worcester.