Park House Farmhouse

BARROW IN FURNESS

SD27SW PARKHOUSE ROAD 708-1/4/105 (West side (off)) 10/11/49 Park House Farmhouse

GV II*

Farmhouse. Probably C16 origin rebuilt C17 and with C19 additions. Red ashlar sandstone, graduated slate roof. L-shaped plan. 2 storeys and attic, 4 windows to 1st floor; 2-storey wing to rear left. Stone porch to left of centre with chamfered round arch, plaque dated 1831 and ashlar gable copings; part-glazed door within has chamfered segmentally-arched head and hoodmould. To each side are 4-light double-chamfered mullioned windows with plain casements, king mullions and hoodmoulds; small single-light window to right. 1st floor: similar windows of 3, 3, 3 and 2 lights, the right-hand pair set higher. Massive external end stack to right gable; small external stack to left end. Rear: 4-light window (as front) on left of tall 2-light window (altered); external stack in angle has offsets and later brick shaft; 3-light mullioned windows to 1st floor. Reused medieval gargoyle in rear wall of wing. Left return: wing has early C19 mullioned windows of 3 lights to ground floor and 2, 3 and 1 lights above. INTERIOR: front door leads to cross-passage with service room to left having 2 doorways (1 blocked). Hall on right has large sidewall fireplace, its chamfered, segmental arch with joggled voussoirs. Room to rear right with C17 panelling and door. Rear wing has a chamfered side-wall fireplace to kitchen, and a crown post truss cut off below the springing of the struts. Stone spiral staircase to 1st floor. Plank-and-muntin panelling divides right-hand 2 rooms. Oak, solid-tread stair to attic; 6 principal-rafter trusses with curved struts, collars and 2 curved wind braces. The survival of some internal features and the adherence to the medieval plan of hall, cross-passage and service room suggests an early date. Close proximity to the ruins of Furness Abbey would have allowed rebuilding in stone before this became the norm.

Listing NGR: SD2236671038