Paulswell

Paulswell is a late 18th century, two-storey, three-bay, L-plan farmhouse with a piended roof. It is constructed of squared and snecked sandstone rubble with polished ashlar dressings. A raised quoins and cills are visible, along with an eaves course. The south elevation is symmetrical, featuring regular fenestration and a central doorway. A classical porch with Tuscan columns supports a deep entablature with a moulded cornice; above the timber door with glazed panels is an astragalled box fanlight. A gabled single-storey block projects to the rear, forming an L-plan, with a piended outshot to the west. A circular, drystone-lined well is situated near the re-entrant angle.

The windows are timber sash and case with 12 panes of glazing, and the roof is covered with grey graded slate. A pair of tall, coped, closely-set ridge stacks topped with clay cans are present, along with cast-iron rainwater goods.

Inside, a cantilevered stone staircase has a decorative cast-iron balustrade and a timber handrail, curving at the newel. Plain classical fireplaces are found in the principal ground floor rooms.

A large, broadly intact U-plan steading range, including a granary, is located directly to the rear of the farmhouse. It is constructed of rubble with dressed sandstone quoins and raised cills, incorporating four segmental cart arches to the west elevation. Some stone boxes feature in the interior walls and the roof is grey slate.

Paulswell is a well-preserved example of an 18th century farmhouse, notable for its simple classical proportions, the solid, Tuscan-columned entrance porch, and the closely-set stacks. The associated steading range contributes significantly to the setting and small-scale agricultural context. The circular drystone-lined well enhances the contextual interest. Ordnance Survey maps from 1856-9 and 1896, and a publication by Kitty Cruft, John Dunbar and Richard Fawcett (2002) provide further reference.