Fort Putnam Farmhouse, Barns, Byres, Cow House, Wall And Gateway

The site comprises a farmhouse and associated outbuildings, constructed in the late 18th century for the 11th Duke of Norfolk, commemorating the success of the American War of Independence. Early 19th-century extensions and alterations were made, documented by inscriptions and datestones from 1892, attributed to Henry Charles Howard. The buildings are constructed primarily of red sandstone ashlar, partially rendered, and feature string courses, a battlemented parapet, V-jointed quoins, and a chamfered plinth. Lean-to roofs are covered with graduated greenslate, topped with large, banded red sandstone chimney stacks.

The farmhouse is a two-story, three-bay structure, flanked by lower stables and barns, and adjoined by a single-story, five-bay cow house, all arranged around a farmyard. The other two sides of the farmyard are enclosed by an L-shaped barn and byre range, connected to the farmhouse by an archway. The entire outer wall forms a continuous battlemented curtain wall, creating a rough U-shaped layout. The exterior of the farmhouse is high and polygonal; each angled wall incorporates a tall, blind, pointed arch. Windows, set within 20th-century openings with 19th-century stone surrounds, are positioned on two levels within two of the central arches. A further arch on the left side has a round vent. The arch on the right is covered by the early 19th-century cow house, which is divided into five bays by tall, semicircular piers ringed with stone petals, culminating in cone-shaped features topped with balls. Round-headed recesses between the piers originally contained blocked round vents. A tall, pointed-arched gateway, located around the left corner of the farmhouse, provides access to the farmyard. An early 19th-century extension to the curtain wall on the left forms part of the barn/byre range, from which a square central turret rises.

The internal courtyard walls are less elaborate than the exterior. The farmhouse has late 19th-century doorways and windows, with dated and inscribed wall panels. The inner wall of the cow house is composed of simple square piers supporting a sloping roof. The barn/byre range features three segmental arches under pointed cart doorways, leading to a loft. The angled barn has two pointed cart entrances on each side and slit vents at two levels. Originally modeled after Bunkers Hill, the complex is now considered the most impressive of several farmhouse follies in the Greystoke area.