The Dogs

THE DOGS

A house of exceptional quality dating from circa 1650, reshaped internally by Nathaniel Ireson between 1740 and 1750. The building is constructed of local stone rubble, lime rendered on all elevations except the North side, with a plain clay tile roof over stone slate base courses and simple gables. Stone chimney stacks with moulded caps complete the external treatment.

The plan is U-shaped with an added South porch and infill on the East. The house rises to 2 storeys with an attic, presenting 3 bays to the South elevation. A plinth and first floor string course divide the façades, which are punctuated by reserved chamfer mullioned windows. The main outer bays carry 3-light windows with labels to the upper level, whilst the attic gable bay and first floor projecting porch bay have 2-light windows, also with labels, set beneath a second string course. The open porch arch is chamfered and cambered, with internal side seats and single sidelights ornamented with ovolo mouldings. A 2-panelled door sits within an inner cambered arch. The porch gable displays a sundial above a square panel with reserved chamfer border and niche. Over bay 3, a pitched roof dormer pierces the main roof line.

The East roadside elevation echoes the South face in its fenestration strategy but includes two projecting bays and a single-storey former porch between them. The main 3-light window here has ovolo mouldings, whilst the attic 2-light windows retain reserved chamfers; all carry labels. The North elevation combines a similar mixture of moulded mullioned windows, though one first floor window has been blocked with red brickwork. This elevation is now partially obscured by a 1930s cinema building, constructed close to the wall by a former owner. The West elevation spans 5 bays of varied fenestration. Bay 1 contains an early 20th-century window and door; bay 3 features a tall reserved chamfer mullioned and transomed stair window, beneath which stands a 19th-century porch; bay 4 displays three 2-light windows alongside a reserved chamfer mullioned cellar window with ovolo moulding to the ground floor and hollow chamfer above; bay 5 terminates the sequence with a chimney stack corbelled out at first floor level.

The interior reveals extensive evidence of Ireson's reshaping. The porch opens into the dining room, positioned at the South East corner, which retains 17th-century dado panelling and an ovolo-moulded cambered arched doorway leading into the hall. A fine wide fireplace here is equipped with an 18th-century wood-panelled canopy featuring racks for spits and associated equipment. According to 19th-century illustrations, the hall, located in the middle of the West elevation, originally contained the principal entrance doorway. Ireson's contribution includes 2-panelled doorways and a fine stairway distinguished by square newels with ball finials and barley-sugar twist balusters.

The North East living room features segmental arched openings and an 18th-century ceiling divided into two sections with a deep frieze. The North West corner room is fully lined to ceiling height with 18th-century panelling topped with a wood cornice, and contains a plain cambered arched fireplace positioned diagonally across one corner. The landing displays fine panelled doors, many double, set within pedimented surrounds.

The South West bedroom stands as possibly the finest room in the house. It is clad in full-height fielded panelling with a pulvinated frieze and is furnished with a good chimney piece and overmantel. Most panels bear paintings executed by French officer prisoners held between 1805 and 1815. The North West bedroom similarly features full-height fielded panelling surmounted by a heavy ogee-moulded frieze, but also retains plain chamfered crossbeams to the ceiling and a bolection-moulded fireplace positioned in the corner. The South East bedroom preserves two carved window seats, possibly 17th-century in date. The staircase to the attic is carefully worked through the twist in its second flight; the attic itself is substantially 17th-century in character, with framed muntin and panel partitioning and original doors. The collar beam trusses are constructed with tenons to both collars and purlins. An apparently 17th-century gate isolates the cellar stairs. One cellar beneath the North West room is finished with a groyne vault.

The house was almost certainly built by Richard Churchey, a local merchant, around 1650, though it was described as 'recently built' as late as 1688. William of Orange spent at least one night in the South West bedroom in 1688. The name 'The Dogs' derives from two stone greyhounds which formerly crowned the now vanished East gateposts and appear on the Churchey Arms.