Tarn House

Country house, now a National Trust Field Centre, built around 1780 for Thomas Lister, Lord Ribblesdale, with extensions constructed around 1802 and 1853 and additions to the east in 1862-85 for Walter Morrison. The building is constructed of dressed medium-grained sandstone with greyslate roofs. The original 18th-century range is two storeys and features three bays across by three bays deep. A later 19th-century east range with three bays across is attached, along with further 19th-century additions to the rear, which are not of particular interest.

The south front of the 18th-century range has a central bay that projects forward as a two-storey canted bay, with a later 19th-century glass-roofed verandah recessed behind it. The windows throughout are sash windows, with plate glass to the ground floor and glazing bars to the first floor. An eaves band runs along the roofline, which is hipped. Ridge stacks flank the central bay and there are two more to the left return. The right-hand, bow-fronted east range has tall windows to both the ground and first floors, with architraves and a sill band. There is also an eaves band and cornice. The left return is rendered with raised quoins, featuring a square central window above a tall stair window. The flanking windows have glazing bars within projecting stone surrounds. The right return is dominated by a porch with large doors in a moulded architrave and cornice supported on brackets.

Inside, the east (entrance) range contains a staircase with a wrought iron balustrade. Thomas Lister, who served as MP for Clitheroe until 1790, built Tarn House (originally called Malham Water House) as a hunting lodge and it was occupied by his agent, Thomas Collins (died 1816). In 1852, Lister’s son sold the extended house to James Morrison, whose son lived there until 1921. Charles Kingsley was a visitor and drew inspiration for “The Water Babies” during his stay. John Ruskin likely influenced the design of the east entrance wing, which formerly featured a tall campanile above the entrance, demolished after 1963.