Braisty Woods Farmhouse

Braisty Woods Farmhouse is a substantial house of early-mid 17th-century date, with an early 18th-century extension and mid 19th-century refenestration and additions. It stands on the south side of a lane off Smelthouses to Burnt Yates Road.

The house is built of coursed squared gritstone with a graduated stone slate roof. It is two storeys with attics and follows an L-plan, comprising a main range of three bays plus one additional bay, with a two-bay projecting wing to the left.

The main range features stressed quoins. Bay 2 contains a six-panel door set in a stone architrave with fluted pilasters, pulvinated frieze, entablature and cornice. Flanking this and on the first floor are paired four-pane sashes in stone surrounds, with a single sash above the door. A sill band runs across both floors, with an eaves band, corniced end stacks, and a half-glazed door in stone surround in bay 4. Above this door and to its right are four-pane sashes on both floors, with a shaped kneeler, gable coping and end stack to the right.

The projecting bay to the left has quoins and recessed-chamfered mullion windows throughout. The first floor to the left has one light; the attic storey has a two-light window to the left and a square window to the right. The bay is topped with shaped kneelers, gable coping and a ridge stack.

The rear elevation shows random fenestration. The earliest window, probably original to the 17th century, appears to be a blocked tall narrow pointed-arched light, now replaced by a mid 20th-century inserted casement in bay 4. This is flanked by round-arched windows with imposts and keystones—one lighting a staircase to the left, and one to the right that is a composite window of two round arches above a transom. The remaining rear windows are of 20th-century date. Shaped kneelers, gable coping and ridge stacks project from bays 1, 2, 4 and 5.

The left return has a central 20th-century porch, a square window far left, and recessed-chamfered mullion windows inserted around 1980. A quoined straight joint marks the junction with an earlier bay to the right. The first floor shows the outline of two added gables, now demolished.

The right return features a 17th-century projecting bay with a board door in a chamfered surround, flanked to the left by a five-light recessed-chamfered mullion window under a continuous hoodmould. Above is a mullion and transom window of five lights below the transom and four above.

Interior features include six-panel doors with original brass fittings throughout the main range. The front right room contains a 20th-century fireplace flanked by double cupboard doors, one converted for access to an additional bay. The left cupboard has scrolled shelves and an architrave of fluted pilasters with entablature and cornice. A dentilled ceiling cornice runs around the room.

The staircase opposite the entrance comprises two straight flights with column and vase balusters and square newels, with a moulded handrail. The landing ceiling is decorated with unusual plasterwork composed of two large masks, a rectangular panel and corner masks, with dentilled and acanthus decoration to the mouldings.

The kitchen on the ground floor to the left contains a large fireplace against the west wall with cyma-moulded supports to a large mantelpiece and recess for a range. Early woodwork survives in a post and muntin partition against the east wall, and a panelled cupboard door to the left of the fireplace.

The roof structure above the kitchen bay comprises two tie beam trusses, altered to queen post trusses in the remainder.

The 17th-century projecting bay on the ground floor has a south-east corner fireplace with an ovolo-moulded surround. The north-west corner contains a staircase enclosed by a post and panel partition at ground and first floor levels, with a two-panel door at the head of the stairs that was formerly at ground floor level. The first floor shows timberwork at the stairhead with traces of painted decoration. The corner chimney-breast bears painted plasterwork comprising a circular wreath, possibly of laurel enclosing a crowned head (now defaced), flanked by a rose to the left and a thistle to the right.

Braisty Woods was a substantial settlement in the later Middle Ages, developed as a pastoral outstation where sheep and store cattle were wintered, belonging to Fountains Abbey. The house and lands are associated with the Scafe or Skaife family from the monastic period (late 15th century onwards) and later as tenants of the Ingilbys of Ripley Castle. In 1615 Thomas and John Skaife purchased the freehold from Sir William Ingilby. The inventory of Richard Skaife dated 1728 shows evidence of recent extensions and alterations made by that date. The painted plasterwork may commemorate the Act of Parliament uniting England and Scotland in 1706, the date recorded on the sundial.