Rhual (including attached wall to the North side)

A substantial country house of two storeys with attics, primarily dating from 1643, with later modifications and extensions. The building is constructed of red brick, now rendered and scribed to resemble stone, with slate roofing and stone plinth to the west elevation.

East Front

The principal elevation displays a symmetrical design of five bays. The two outermost bays project as rectangular bays rising through both storeys. These outer bays contain five-light mullion and transom windows at ground floor level, with taller five-light mullion and transom windows at first floor. The attic storey comprises three coped and finialed gables, each housing a stepped three-light mullion and transom window. A central arched doorway is set between two fluted Doric columns. Stone string courses run across the elevation. The north wing projects to the right, set back from the main front. This section is two storeys with attics, rendered brick with slate roof. It comprises three bays, of which the two furthest are set back. The single bay projects with a coped and finialed gable containing a two-light window at ground floor and three-light window at first floor. The attic storey contains a stepped three-light window. The two bays attached to the far right feature mullioned and transom windows at ground and first floors, with two coped and finialed dormers to the attic storey containing stepped three-light windows.

South Elevation

Two storeys with attic, rendered red brick with moulded stone string courses. The ground floor contains a ten-light mullion and transom window and a 19th-century twelve-light window at floor level. The first floor has two mullion and transom windows. The attic contains a centrally placed coped and finialed gable with a six-light window.

West Elevation

Red brick set on stone plinth with irregular fenestration and stone dressings to windows. Some stone quoins are present. To the right are three bays of two storeys with coped and finialed gabled attics. Mullion and transom windows appear throughout, with two now blocked. To the left are four bays of red brick with some stone quoins. These contain one two-light mullion and transom window, various other windows including a twelve-pane horizontal sliding sash at ground floor, and a central first floor eighteen-pane window set within a 17th-century brick opening.

Interior Plan and Features

The main section employs a double-pile plan form dating from 1643, representing a thorough remodelling of the earlier pre-17th century house. Only remnants survive of the earlier structure: an exceptionally large stack and an extremely thick wall between the Dining Room and Kitchen.

The Hall is entered directly from the main door, with a notional cross-passage continuing to the rear main staircase. The floor is stone flagged. The doorcases and eared overmantel containing a painting date from the second quarter of the 18th century. The Dining Room features a decorative cornice. The Library contains a black marble Regency fireplace with recesses either side housing built-in Gillow Gothic Revival style bookcases.

The main staircase dates from the early 17th century, with flat, shaped and pierced balusters, finialed newel posts, and a string decorated with lozenge pattern and strap-work detailing.

The servants' corridor contains two internal fanlights over doors and a set of seven servants' bells. The Housekeeper's room has an early 19th-century fireplace flanked by two arched recesses. The Pantry retains the remains of a bread oven. The rear service corridor retains game hooks to the ceiling. Service accommodation is housed in the north wing.

First Floor

The Drawing Room sits directly above the main hall and features a 19th-century white marble fireplace, decorative cornice and central plaster ceiling rose. An adjacent bedroom contains an exceptionally fine carved wooden Rococo fireplace, with a blocked doorway that once accessed the Drawing Room. Other bedrooms contain similarly carved wooden Rococo fireplaces and several very good late 19th-century aesthetic movement cast-iron fire grates. The north wing is served by a service stair with rooms set at two different floor levels.

Attic Storey

The attic storey contains both polite and service accommodation with notably higher quality decoration to the former. Main polite rooms are accessed directly from the main staircase. These feature 18th-century doors with Dutch door handles and fireplaces with early 19th-century cast iron Gothic Revival and later 19th-century aesthetic movement detailing matching those on the first floor. One bedroom is entered through a dressing room containing an early 19th-century fireplace. Service accommodation is set at two different floor levels and contains various wooden plank doors with latch handles.

Setting

An attached wall stands to the north side.