Gatehouse, Cothelstone Manor

The gatehouse at Cothelstone Manor dates from the mid-16th century and is constructed from coursed squared red sandstone with white limestone dressings, featuring a random rubble plinth and random rubble return elevations. It has flat roofs and asbestos-covered ashlar stacks. The central tower projects half a storey above the flanking wings and is two storeys high with three bays. The central crenellated tower includes a blind round-headed niche resting on a string course, with a corbelled out shouldered support leading to a plain frieze. The recessed centre features oval eye slits at the second floor above a four-centred moulded arch.

The wings break forward and have four-light mullions of the tripartite baluster type on the first floor, similar to those used in the manor itself and throughout the gatehouse. Below the string course, there are shell-headed niches flanked by glazed openings on the ground floor. Inside the gateway, there are arched doorways with round-headed niches and incomplete string courses where double doors, now missing, were rebated.

On either side of the gatehouse, there are two-storey buildings that currently lack ceilings and feature winder stairs in projecting turrets. The first floor has depressed four-centred arched fireplaces set in square frames with tablets above and moulded jambs, with the left-hand one being partially decayed. The right-hand block contains a single-storey rendered partition with a four-centred arch opening. The rear elevation displays three-light mullions in both the tower and the wings. This gatehouse presents a charming and unusual blend of architectural elements and remains largely unaltered since the 16th century.