Wadfield House And Side Walls To Forecourt

Wadfield House is a house dating from circa 1705, with a 19th-century extension and alterations and repairs in 1931, probably by W.H. Godfrey, for Major Dent-Brocklehurst. The building is constructed of ashlar, coursed and squared stone, with part natural and part artificial stone slate roofing. It has a five-window 'L' shaped plan, with two-and-a-half and two-storey wings forming a U-shape.

The garden front, originally the entrance front, features a plinth with four two-light mullion windows to the cellar (one blocked). Four stone steps lead to a double door with a framed, bolection-moulded stone surround, narrow Roman Doric pilasters, pulvinated frieze, and a pediment. To either side are two two-light mullion and transom windows with cyma moulding externally and hollow chamfer internally, featuring leaded lights and iron opening lights. A plain string course runs along the front, above which are five similar windows, followed by a modillion eaves cornice. The roof is hipped with sprocketed eaves, and two dormers with two-light, leaded casements. Two chimneys with moulded caps stand to the rear.

The front has been extended outwards approximately two metres on each side with an opening and short wall, around 1.9 metres high, topped with a plain coping. This wall returns to the front, enclosing a forecourt with approximately 10.5 metres on each side, terminating in a square corner pier with a plinth, moulded cap, and ball finial.

The left return to the house includes a plinth, two windows to each floor as on the front, but with hollow chamfer moulded externally, a plain string course, eaves, and roofing matching the front. A chimney is positioned within a slightly projecting gable on the rear.

Internally, the garden entrance leads to a stone-paved lobby with dado panelling to the outer walls, tall panelling above the dado to the back of the stairs, and a two-panel door to a cupboard under a moulded beam to the ceiling. The drawing room to the left features bolection-moulded panelling, a dado rail, panelled shutters, and window seats, with a 1931 stone fireplace surround. The dining room on the right of the lobby includes tall panelling to the stair wall, panelled shutters to the windows, a cupboard in a former window, and a 1931 stone fireplace surround, with cyma moulding to the ceiling beam, as found in the end room of the right wing. A heavy chamfer is present on the beam in the kitchen. The stairs are approached from the back and display a moulded, pulvinated string, moulded handrail, square, panelled newels, twisted balusters and a dog-gate for the cellar stairs. Walls are panelled and a square, plastered dome is above the stairs at attic level. The roof structure has principal rafters with curved feet, collars extended as flying collars to the chimney gables, a king-post above the collar, and no ridge piece. A barrel vault covers the cellar. The present entrance to the courtyard was created in 1931, effectively rotating the house. A low wing originally served as a cottage and coach house. A stone fireplace in the drawing room is a copy of an early 18th-century fireplace previously located in the dining room.