Leadervale House

Leadervale House is an early 19th century single-storey villa built on a raised basement. It features a symmetrical, square plan with three bays and a piended roof. The villa has an Ionic columned porch and bows on the side elevations, set peacefully within the landscape on the west bank of the Leader Water. The exterior is constructed of harled rubble with ashlar dressings, and includes a band course, a moulded cornice, rusticated angle quoins at the basement level, and pilastered angle margins above on the principal elevation.

The principal elevation showcases sweeping bowed steps with cast-iron balustrades leading to the bowed Ionic columned porch. The entrance consists of a timber panelled door topped with a spoked fanlight, flanked by tall windows featuring columned mullions and sidelights, with fluted aprons and carved balustrade detail. The eastern and western elevations have bowed bays on either side and tripartite windows at the upper level. The rear includes bowed infill to a former service court.

The villa predominantly has 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows, with slightly curved units in the bowed bays. The roof is covered with grey slate, and it features coped ridge stacks with clay cans and cast-iron rainwater goods.

Inside, the villa has an oval hall with a Corinthian screen to the north, which opens onto a curving stair that descends to the lower level. The hall includes four niches and a ceiling rose, along with enriched cornicing. The dining and drawing rooms have bowed ends, with a fine white marble chimneypiece featuring fluted Ionic columns and a central panel depicting the Roman Goddess Diana, flanked by figures playing a lyre and a dog. There is also a further timber chimneypiece decorated with gesso seaweed and shell motifs, along with enriched cornicing throughout.