Kingsley House

SE 18 NW MIDDLEHAM KIRKGATE (west side) 9/102 Kingsley House 15.2.67 GV II

Rectory, then Deanery, now house. Medieval, probably C17 and 1752. Part rendered, part rubble, stone slate roofs. 2 storeys, in 3 ranges. Central range of medieval origin, perhaps a single-storey hall plan, with entry into passage behind fireplace. Rendered, 2-bay, south elevation: on ground floor, doorway with pointed arch. roll moulding on chamfers, head stops to label; to its left a sash window. On first floor early C18 6-pane sash windows. Shaped kneelers and ashlar coping to left, ridge stack between bays one and 2. In rear corner, 2 similar medieval doorways. West range, probably of C17 date. Rendered, east elevation: one ground floor and 2 first-floor 6-pane sash windows. Shaped kneeleer left, ashlar copings, central ridge stack. Eastern range, said to be of 1752 but looks older. Rubble, east elevation: 3 bays. Plinth, quoins. Central part-glazed door in moulded stone surround on plinths with pulvinated frieze and pediment. Ground floor: sash windows with glazing bars in moulded stone surrounds. First floor: sash windows in eared and shouldered moulded surrounds. Dentilled cornice. Hipped roof, corniced ashlar stacks between bays one and 2, 2 and 3. North side: added C19. bay window and C19 2-storey range with canted bays to north. Interior: east range has good mid-C18 staircase. The medieval rectory became the deanery of the collegiate body to which Midddleham church was elevated in 1477 by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III. The college lapsed, then was re-established as a chapter in 1814, when one of the canons was the writer, Charles Kingsley, hence the present name. J M Melhuish, The College of King Richard III, Middleham, 1983.

Listing NGR: SE1269787898