Dalesend

Dalesend is a country house dating from the early 18th century, with alterations and additions around 1901. It was originally built for Gregory Elsley. The house is constructed of coursed sandstone with ashlar dressings and has a stone slate roof. It comprises a central three-storey, five-bay block with a rear outshut and rear wing, flanked by single-storey, two-bay wings.

The south garden front features the central block with a plinth and quoins. String courses run between the floors. The central entrance has a six-panel door topped by a four-pane overlight, set within a keyed architrave, flanked by fielded panels and consoles supporting a segmental pediment. Sash windows with glazing bars are contained within keyed architraves, with moulded sills; the second floor windows have six panes. A cornice runs along the top of the block, surmounted by a parapet with corner ball finials and ashlar copings. Ashlar end stacks are evident. The flanking wings, added in 1901, are in a matching style and feature plinths, quoins, strings, parapets, and larger sash windows in keyed architraves.

At the rear, an outshut has shaped kneelers, but is largely obscured by a large rear service wing constructed around 1901, which is not considered of special interest. A C20 bow window is visible on the left return. The right return features a square bay window with tripartite sashes, alongside a recessed eight-pane sash and a doorway that mirrors the design of the south front, except for a triangular pediment.

Inside, the original entrance hall boasts a dentil cornice and a turned-baluster staircase. The sitting room to the left has a Vitruvian scroll dado and cornice with anthemion and egg-and-dart motifs. The dining room to the right features bolection-moulded panelling, a Vitruvian scroll dado, and a cornice with modillions alternating with rosettes and egg-and-dart motifs. Doors throughout the ground and first floors are of six fielded panels, with originally two fielded panels on the second floor. The drawing room in the left wing contains a pine chimney-piece brought from Clumber Park, with Corinthian columns and an enriched frieze. The former billiard room in the right wing has a ceiling border decorated with fruit and foliage. A Roman tombstone, dedicated to Siminia Vera, wife of Flavius Italicus and brought from Catteractonium, is displayed in the side entrance hall. Dalesend was owned by the Elsley family until the 20th century and served as the rectory during the time of Rev Gregory Elsley in the 18th century.