Mayfurlong, Grindon

Mayfurlong, Grindon

A farmhouse built in 1844 of coursed sandstone with an ashlar front. The building has three storeys with four rooms to each floor, two staircases, and a cellar containing two rooms. The gabled roof is of fishscale tiles with a plain ridge.

The south front is the principal elevation, built of yellow sandstone in three bays arranged near-symmetrically. A projecting plinth runs the full width, with plain bands marking the level of the first-floor window sills and continuing below the eaves. The panelled doorway is positioned slightly left of centre and has a moulded stone hood supported on simple brackets. At either side are canted bays with cast iron window surrounds of 6x6 panes at the front and 2x6 panes to the angles. These canted bays continue to the first floor but diminish in size, though 20th-century softwood casements have since been inserted. The datestone is positioned centrally, set in a projecting frame and inscribed 'A H / AD 1844'.

The remaining three fronts are built of red sandstone with yellow sandstone quoins and dressings. The east flank has a first-floor window to the right with a cast iron surround of 7x6 panes, and an attic-level window of 6x6 panes; both have deep stone lintels with hoodmoulds. The west flank has a low ground-floor window to the centre of 6x4 panes and an attic window of 6x6 panes, similarly detailed with deep lintels and hoodmoulds. The rear elevation has a plank doorway at right of centre, a three-light casement to its left at ground-floor level, and a larger three-light casement to the right with a window above of 7x6 panes in a cast iron frame. All openings feature deep lintels with hoodmoulds. A stone cistern with lead lining is adjoined to the rear at the right. The front of the house is bordered by a stretch of low walling with chamfered coping, which supports cast iron railings in the form of spears with occasional stouter balusters terminating in vase finials.

The interior is arranged with the kitchen and pantry on the north face at ground-floor level, while two reception rooms occupy the front. Two staircases serve the upper floors: one rises from the kitchen and the other from a lobby to the rear of the eastern reception room. Four bedrooms occupy each upper floor, with both staircases continuing to the top of the house.

The kitchen retains a hearth on the western wall with an early-20th-century range, above which is a shelf or plate rack extending the full length of the wall. The sink is situated on the north wall below the window, and the staircase rises from the east side. Original stone flags form the flooring. The pantry contains a stone trough with a continuous low stone shelf to its north wall and wooden shelves above; cast iron internal windows light the staircase and service room. The kitchen and pantry retain their original stone flag flooring.

The south-western reception room has a stone fire surround with canted corners and its original cast iron grate, retaining original black and red terracotta tile flooring. A plaque inset in the wall above the fireplace bears a coat of arms, which may be a chimney flue hatch. To the left of the fire is a fitted cupboard with doors opening to a cupboard above and drawers below, set into the wall thickness. The canted south window retains its shutters.

The south-eastern reception room has wide original floorboards. Its original fire surround has been replaced with a tiled version in the mid-20th century. Wall cupboards flank the fireplace; the right-hand example is a bureau cupboard of mahogany with two drawers fitted with bun handles below, and pigeon holes and a cupboard with inlay decoration to its door. The left-hand cupboard is a smaller mahogany wall cupboard. The first-floor bedrooms retain original fireplaces with cast iron grates and small wall cupboards. The attic bedrooms have wide floorboards, and the roof displays two ranks of purlins with original plaster torching in situ. Panelled doors survive throughout the house.