The Court House

The Court House is a three-storey house with a two-storey wing to the right and a further wing to the rear, along with single-storey extensions at the back. It dates from the 17th century, with later additions. The main block is constructed of painted rubble limestone, with slate roofs. The design is symmetrical, featuring five bays and a central porch. The gabled porch has chamfered jambs and a hollow-chamfered segmental arch, which appears mismatched. Above the arch is a decorative plaque bearing the inscription 'ER : I : FOD : YN : ING : MAEN : DDA : YN : WNG : 1635'. While the lettering supports this date, the inscription’s meaning has been subject to various interpretations, one of which, favoured by Bradney, translates to “It being small, it is pleasant to be close together,” which seems unlikely to relate to the current building. A late 17th-century door, consisting of four vertical planks with strap hinges and a moulded architrave, is located within the porch. Flanking the porch are two 20th-century timber mullion and transom casements with 4 over 8 panes in each light, set within segmental brick heads. Five similar casements are found on the upper floor, and one is present in a central gable providing access to the attic. The roof is steeply pitched, lacks verges, and has end stacks. A lower two-storey wing, originally the kitchen, is positioned to the right. It may be older than or have been added to the main house. This wing features a modern six-panel door, alongside a tripartite sash window with 4 over 4 panes flanking a wider 4 over 4. Above this are two 2-light casements with eight panes to each light. The wing’s roof has a lower pitch and a right-hand end stack. The gable elevation of the main block is punctuated by two garret windows at each end. A rear stack is visible, featuring a 2-light casement above a 3-light casement. A projecting two-storey wing and a modern single-storey extension complete the rear elevation.

The interior is arranged around a centrally planned, straight-flight stair in the hall. This staircase has a closed string and turned balusters characteristic of around 1700. The rooms on either side have plain beams and reconstructed fireplaces, with ceiling beams being reused as lintels. One room contains a 19th-century bread oven. The late 17th-century roof structure has been significantly altered, and the surviving interiors offer little insight into the building’s origins.