Esperston Farmhouse

Esperston Farmhouse is a mid-18th century, three-story, three-bay rectangular farmhouse, with later 19th-century additions and alterations. The exterior is harled with polished dressings, incorporating a dividing band course between the ground and first floors, a moulded eaves cornice, raised margins to the windows, strip quoins, and plain timber bargeboards.

The south (principal) elevation is symmetrical and features an advanced gabled porch at the center, containing a panelled timber door and topped with a stone ball finial. Windows are located to the left and right returns. Slate roofs cover the projecting tripartite windows in the flanking bays. A window is centered on the first floor, with bipartite windows flanking it. Gabled windows, raised in height to break the eaves, are present in each bay of the second floor. A two-story, single-bay addition is situated to the right, with bipartite windows on each floor. A single-story and attic, single-bay addition is slightly recessed to the outer right, featuring a centered ground-floor window and a gabled attic window breaking the eaves.

The northeast elevation is largely obscured by later additions and an adjoining outbuilding. The northwest elevation is asymmetrical, with four bays. A two-story, two-bay lean-to projects from the penultimate and outer right bays. The fenestration is regular on each story. A single-story lean-to extends from the ground floor of the penultimate and outer left bays, featuring a multi-pane glazed timber door to the bay on the right. A large nine-pane window is in the penultimate bay of the first floor, and a smaller window is to the outer left. Four-pane windows are present in the penultimate and outer left bays on the second floor. Two-story, single-bay additions are advanced to the left; one has an eight-pane window on the ground floor and a twelve-pane window on the first, while the other features a piended roof.

The southwest elevation is blank, except for a garage on the ground floor of the lean-to addition to the left.

The windows are predominantly two-pane timber sash and case, and the roof is covered with grey slate, featuring a lead ridge. Coped ashlar gablehead stacks are topped with octagonal cans, and cast iron rainwater goods are in place.

The interior retains original detailing, including panelled timber shutters and cornices, along with 19th-century work, particularly on the ground floor.

Coped, droved, coursed sandstone gatepiers with pyramidal caps are located to the east of the house.

Historical records show the lands of Esperston date back to the 14th century. The present farmhouse appears to have been constructed in the mid-18th century for the Arniston Estate, initially as a two-story structure. A stone in the garden details repairs from 1812, likely when the house was raised to accommodate a full attic storey and the porch was added. The two-story wing appears to date from the mid-19th century, coinciding with the addition of bay windows and enlarged first-floor windows. Later additions include the single-story service wing and rear lean-to.