Box House

Box House is a detached house built in the mid to late 17th century and enlarged in the mid to late 18th century. It was remodeled around 1800 with a new west front range for Peter Playne and altered in 1904 by V.A. Lawson for A.J. Playne. The building features coursed, squared, and random rubble limestone, with ashlar chimneys and a stone slate roof. It is two stories tall and consists of two parallel ranges that include a central staircase hall.

The west front has a three-window arrangement, with 15-pane sash windows on the ground floor and 12-pane sash windows on the upper floor, all featuring marginal glazing bars. The central doorway is topped by a tripartite sash window on the upper floor. A partially glazed lean-to verandah was added in 1904, supported by Tuscan timber pilasters across nine bays, and features a central pediment and entablature with a dentil-enriched cornice. The roof is hipped, with ridge-mounted chimneys that have molded caps.

The rear range projects beyond the north end on the left side and has a three-window arrangement, all with 12-pane sashes. Garage doors have been inserted at the north end, and the ground floor has been altered. The south end features a two-window arrangement with sashes similar to those on the front. At the center of the rear range is a gabled 17th-century house that has been significantly altered as part of the 1800 modifications.

Inside, there is a fine curved open-well staircase with an iron balustrade, and the stair hall is illuminated by top lighting. A gateway from around 1800 leads to the north side of the property.