Stocks Hill House

Stocks Hill House

A house dating from the late 15th century, with subsequent remodelling in 1601, 1858, and 1973. The building is constructed of squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof. Originally a hall house, it has been subdivided and now comprises 2 storeys, with part rising to 3 storeys with attics, stepped back to accommodate sloping ground.

The main front facing Duddington Mill Street has 4 bays with a 3-window range. On the ground and first floors, to the left of centre, are late 15th-century two-light stone mullion windows with cusped-head lights and square label stops. To the right of centre are 19th-century two- and three-light stone mullion windows set within eaves dormers. A similar 3-window range of two- and three-light windows occupies the ground floor to the right. At the far left, under the eaves, is an early 17th-century single-light window with a moulded stone surround. Two 20th-century part-glazed doors are set between the window ranges, each with a four-centred arch-head and moulded stone surround; the right door sits higher than the left due to the rising ground. A hipped roof dormer with leaded lights sits to the left of centre. Ashlar gable parapets are visible to the left. A lateral ashlar stack stands to the left of centre, with another ashlar stack at the right end.

A 19th-century single-storey building breaks forward at right angles to the far left, featuring a 20th-century three-light stone mullion window in the gable end and a similar single-light window above, with ashlar gable parapets. A single-storey building attached to the far right has a 20th-century part-glazed door with moulded stone surround and 19th-century double doors under a shallow stone arch.

The left gable, abutting the road, displays late 15th-century two-light stone mullion windows to both ground and first floors, with cusped-head lights and square label stops. A datestone reading 1601 is set in the apex of this gable. The gable end of a lean-to to the left has one similar 19th-century stone mullion window.

The rear elevation includes a 19th-century lean-to extension to the right and a 2-window range of 20th-century three-light stone mullion windows to the centre and right, with gablets over the first-floor windows. A 20th-century door to the left has a surround similar to those on the main front. A single-storey range to the left contains two- and three-light stone mullion windows, one of which is a reset 17th-century example. A lateral ashlar stack stands to the left with a stone stack to the right.

Interior: The centre bays originally formed an open hall, subdivided in the early 17th century. The entrance hall and staircase were remodelled in 1973, with a 17th-century timber stud wall to the right. The drawing room to the left of the entrance hall contains a large open fireplace with a bressumer, probably of the late 15th century, and stop-chamfered spine beams. The kitchen to the far right of the entrance hall has stop-chamfered spine beams and the remains of an open fireplace with a bressumer. A room on the first floor to the left retains an early 17th-century plaster frieze with scroll decoration, with fragments of a similar frieze appearing on the first floor landing. The first floor over the kitchen is said to be of plaster construction.

The late 15th-century hall roof spans 2 bays and features a central truss with tapered principals and braces to a cambered collar, with butt purlins and windbraces. A similar late 15th-century two-bay roof over the parlour range to the left lacks windbraces and has clasped purlins. The range to the right has an 18th-century roof.