The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory is a house that has several sections, primarily built in the late 18th century, with some remains from the 14th century. It is constructed from coursed sandstone and ashlar, topped with a stone slate roof. The building has two storeys and features seven bays, with the two bays on the left forming a slightly projecting wing. The entrance includes a 19th-century half-glazed door with an overlight that has glazing bars, all set within a moulded surround featuring a pulvinated entablature. The windows on both the ground and first floors are all 12-light sashes with plain surrounds, and there is a projecting linking band at the first-floor sill level. Notably, the two ground-floor windows on the left are glazed but blocked, which appears to be an original feature. The left wing has a hipped roof and a stack located on the ridge between the main range and the wing. On the rear wall of the left wing, there is a blocked window that features 14th-century plate tracery at the first-floor level. Inside, there is a fine 18th-century staircase with a moulded handrail and paired balusters, with gadrooning on alternate balusters. The newel post is designed as a fluted column with gadrooning on the capital. The house is said to be located on the site of the hospital of St Mary Magdalene and is also known as Spofforth House.