Steepway

Steepway is a large detached house, dating to the 17th century with a significant 19th-century addition, and with the roof largely rebuilt in the late 20th century following a fire. The house is constructed of limestone rubble, with stone slate or concrete slate roofs.

Originally an L-plan, cross-gabled house of the 17th century, a large, gabled wing was added at the north end in the 19th century, along with outbuildings forming a small courtyard. The south-west front is arranged in two sections. To the left is a slightly forward-projecting two-storey, two-windowed section with a three-light and a two-light stone mullioned casement window on the ground floor, and two flush, gabled dormers above. A plank door is set centrally, with a basket-handle stone lintel above. To the right stands a 17th-century unit with two storeys and an attic; it features three-light and two-light stone mullioned casements on the ground floor, a two-light and a three-light window at the first floor, and a two-light window in the attic, set within a full-height gable to the right. Projecting forward to the far left is a single-storey, stone-slated outbuilding in four bays, formerly an open shed, now filled with rubble, with three square stone pillars and two two-light casements. There is a hipped end to this structure. The return of the main block to the right has a two-light window to the attic, and single windows to the right at ground and first floors. A valley front features three gables, with a set-back 19th-century block. The older, left-hand section of the house, in two storeys and an attic, has two- and three-light stone mullioned casements, alongside a two-light window in the return wall. Windows in the older wing feature hollow mould mullions, stopped drips, and leading. A later, third gable has a three-light window to the ground floor, two two-light windows to the first floor, and a two-light window to the attic; these have chamfered mullions and lack hoods. A set-back wing is two storeys high, with two flush-gabled, two-light dormers above two two-light casements. Ashlar stacks are located on the ridge and gable of the 17th-century block, and at the gable to the rear right. A large buttress has been added at the left end of the valley front, and a good lead hopper-head and down-pipe are situated between gables on this front.

The interior has been extensively modified. Stone slab floors are present on the ground floor. An end room to the right contains a stopped chamfer beam, 17th-century panelling (believed to have been re-used from elsewhere), a large bressumer fireplace with flanking fluted wood pilasters. The original staircase was likely located to the left of the fireplace, but has now been replaced with a 20th-century oak staircase. A central room has two chamfered beams. An upper room to the left incorporates a good 18th-century stone fire surround with a fluted frieze, a moulded mantel shelf, and an architrave with bead and reed enrichment, alongside a Regency grate.

Attached to the north end is a single-storey, narrow wing, with a two-storey gabled return outbuilding, incorporating an oculus set vertically above a garage opening which has been inserted in an oval form.