Smelter Farmhouse

BISHOPDALE B 6160 SD 98 SE (south-east side, off) 5/8 Smelter Farmhouse 25.3.69 GV II*

Farmhouse. Dated 1701. Probably for John Horner. Rubble, stone slate roof. Irregular U-shaped plan, 2 storeys, with 3 first-floor windows to main range and rear wing to left, shorter staircase wing to rear right and with added linking single-storey lean-to. Quoins. East front: central C20 six-panel door in elaborately-moulded surround, with double cyma reversa sections to arris joining in stop chamfers at base. The inner moulding forms an elaborately stepped head, with "IH" "1701" on spandrels, and a stepped head to outer moulding. Above, a torus pulvinated frieze, and above that a segmental pediment. Double-chamfered mullion windows, the lights with segmental arched heads and sunk spandrels, and with ogee section to inner chamfers on ground floor. Ground floor: 3-light window to left, 6- light window with central king mullion to right, both with hoodmoulds extended into doorway and terminating there in paterae. To right, oval fire window. First-floor windows: 3-light; single-light with stepped head above door; 4-light with central king mullion. Shaped kneelers, ashlar coping. Corniced ashlar stacks between first and second first-floor windows and at right end. Rear: small blocked chamfered surround in gable of stair turret. Left return, in rear wing, ground-floor 4-light double-chamfered window with central king mullion, the inner chamfer hollow, and with hoodmould which is damaged to the right of the window where a doorway has been blocked; first- floor 4-light double-chamfered mullion window. Interior not inspected. The name is probably a reference to a medieval hearth for smelting iron ore found on the hillside nearby. The house is an exceptionally fine example of its type in the area. Uninhabited at time of resurvey.

Listing NGR: SD9645982873