High Oaks

HIGH OAKS

House dated 1706, though probably earlier in origin and enlarged at that date. Situated on Kirkby Lonsdale Road in Marthwaite, Sedbergh, the building is constructed of mixed random rubble with a rendered south gable wall and a slate roof. It has been altered over time and now forms an L-plan, created by a single-depth two-unit main range with a broad rear wing and a 19th-century lean-to added to the north gable.

The exterior presents three storeys with five windows, arranged almost symmetrically. A continuous stone slate drip-course runs over both main floors. Positioned slightly left of centre is a single-storey gabled porch with a cambered wooden lintel to the outer opening. The porch contains a square datestone with a sunk panel bearing raised lettering "W C / 1706", side benches, and a square-headed inner doorway with a studded oak plank door furnished with strap hinges and an ornamental handle. The main floors originally had square two-light mullioned windows with chamfered reveals, but the mullions have been removed and replaced with wooden casements. At ground floor level there are two windows to the left, a coupled pair to the right, and one further to the right (designated a fire-window). The first floor has four windows plus a single-light window to the right. The second floor contains three single-light windows arranged symmetrically. Both gable chimneys have drip-bands carried around them; the one to the right is almost square. The left gable wall, which is rendered, has drip-courses on all three levels and a single-light attic window towards the front. The right-hand gable wall features a large 19th-century lean-to kitchen with an oblong multi-pane window and an attic window. The rear wing gable displays a small round-headed cellar window, two vertically-offset square stair-windows, and a two-light mullioned window above these offset to the right, with a small attic window offset to the left and a gable chimney.

The interior retains an exceptionally complete set of original features. The entrance hallway is formed by an original muntin-and-rail panelled partition to the parlour on the left (now bowed) and a 19th-century inserted partition to the housepart on the right, along with an original panelled door to the rear fitted with wavy splat-balusters in the top. The housepart contains heavy lateral beams including a smokehood bressumer with a muntin-and-plank heck to the left, part of an original settle seat attached to this, and a spice-cupboard to the right with bolection moulding to a panel bearing raised lettering "WC / 1706" decorated with scrollwork. The parlour has a square fireplace with chamfered surround and a panelled overmantel. The rear wing contains an exceptionally fine full-height open-well staircase with exposed bearers, closed string, square newel posts with ball finials, and turned balusters. At first-floor level is a door to the main range matching that at ground floor, and at second-floor level a plank door to the attic chamber of the wing. The attic contains three collar trusses without tie-beams carrying two pairs of trenched purlins.

The house was the home of William Corney (1661–1740), evidently a money-lender.