Shanks House

Shanks House is a country house of considerable historical and architectural importance, combining medieval fragments with major 17th and 18th-century works, including significant refitting by the architect Nathaniel Ireson.

The building is constructed of Cary stone rubble with ashlar dressings, some faces rendered, and features stone slate hipped roofs with mostly brick chimney stacks. It follows a hybrid plan with a main narrow long range running North to South, with a 17th and 18th-century portion positioned astride and to the East. The house rises to 2 storeys with attics and includes some cellars.

The North elevation of the later block comprises 6 bays, with bays 1 and 6 projecting slightly. A 2-storey porch of greater projection sits at bay 4. The elevation has a plinth formerly rendered above, with 12-pane sash windows in plain openings; the lower bay 5 and all upper windows have thick glazing bars. The porch features 10-panel plain double doors flanked by rusticated pilasters with a flat keystoned head and flat timber hood on carved console brackets. Above this is a semi-circular arched window with architrave, impost blocks and keystone, set under a segmental pediment crowned by a small chimney stack. Bay 6 retains a fragment of a reserve chamfer mullioned window at low level. A single-storey range extends Northwards with cellars beneath, featuring a small blocked 4-centred arched doorway on its East face; this probably represents the last remains of the medieval farmhouse.

The East elevation, possibly designed by Ireson, presents 5 bays of ashlar facing. It has a plinth and small dentilled cornice, with 12-pane sashes in architraved surrounds with keystones. To lower bay 3, a shouldered architrave with triple keystone frames French doors beneath a pediment carried on console brackets. Three pitched roof dormers punctuate the roofline.

The South elevation is largely plain, notable only for a semi-circular arched window to the stairwell, with impost blocks and keystoned surround.

The West facade, predominantly 17th-century, displays 7 bays and rises to 3 storeys where the later block intrudes. It features reserve chamfer mullioned windows, 3-light to the ground floor and 2-light to the first floor, the latter apparently with lowered cills. A buttressed cambered arched doorway at bay 1 and a stone-slated porch with 3-centred arch at bay 6 provide access. A lead rainwater stackhead is endorsed "WCM 1759". At the ridge over bay 7 stands an 18th-century timber lead-covered bell turret with weathervane.

The North West wing of 5 bays features casements and a door at bay 1, large segmental arched doorways at bays 2 and 3, followed by two 16-pane sashes between which stands a mounting block, and finally a low 18th-century door to the cellars.

The interior contains much of architectural interest, particularly in the 17th and 18th-century block where Ireson's work is evident throughout. The porch has a flag floor, panelled walls with recesses, and a ceiling cornice. The centre room features panelled dado and heavy cornice, with an ornate semi-circular fanlight over double panelled doors retaining much 18th-century glass in its South wall. The North East room displays 18th-century panelling with fluted composite pilasters that may adapt 17th-century work, an elliptical arch in the East wall, and an 8-panel 17th-century door in the South wall with a higher ceiling. The North West corner room features fielded panelling and an ornate plaster ceiling with a circular panel marked by flowers and swags, window shutters, and a fine fireplace with egg-and-dart moulded surround. A panel featuring cherubs engaged in astronomy is flanked by timber Corinthian pilasters carrying an extended pediment. The South West room is less elaborate, with simple cornice, good doorcases and fireplace, though it received an added 1820 bay window in the South wall. The staircase is fine 18th-century work with turned balusters and Corinthian columns to corners, a deep moulded dado, and elaborate end detail over strings. The stairwell features ornate plasterwork with frieze at upper floor level, applied swags to upper walls, and an ornate plaster ceiling with octagonal panel. A panelled room over the porch has timber dentilled cornice. The South East corner bedroom is panelled with wood cornice, while the North East corner bedroom displays fine panelling, cornice and fireplace. In the North East corner bedroom, traces of moulded cambered arch fireplace survive from the 17th-century wings. Several 17th-century doors remain in the attics.

Cucklington had a manor and market in 1304, and this house may occupy the site of that manor, described as standing "at the foot of the hill". The property is referred to in a will of 1622 as "my house called Shanks". From 1622 to 1729 it was the home of the Watts family, then passed to the Dalton family, who must have commissioned the major reshaping of the building.