Description

SJ 31 SE ALBERBURY WITH - CARDESTON C.P. 5/1 Benthall Farmhouse -

GV II*

Farmhouse. Dated 1660 with early C18 and C19 alterations and additions. Red brick with dressed red sandstone plinth; hipped slate roof. T-plan with additions to east. 3 storeys. Chamfered stone plinth, plat bands (upper one moulded) and shaped joist ends; external brick end stack to north-east with toothed brick course to set back top stage, external lateral brick stack to south-west with toothed brick course to set back top stage, short pitched-roof link to attic, and external brick end stack to north-west with datestone: 1660 toothed brick course to set back G top stage and short slate-hung T H pitched-roof link to attic. South-east (entrance) front: 2:1 bays (formerly 2:2 bays - see blocked windows to right), projecting wing to left; refenestrated in C18 with segmental-headed windows replaced by straight-headed glazing bar sashes (also some C19 four-pane sashes) with exposed boxes and segmental relieving arches (former C17 window heads); ground-floor 2-light wooden casement to right with segmental relieving arch; blind windows in return of wing; C19 hipped-roof brick and timber porch in angle with half-glazed door and half-glazed panelled front door behind. One-storey wing to right with dentil brick eaves cornice. South-west front. 3:1 bays divided by stack; refenstrated with C18 glazing bar sashes, blackings and other alterations; second-floor 2-light wooden casements, one blocked and second from left blind and rendered; right-hand bay with blind window; probably early C19 door replacing former segmental-headed window in second bay from left with 6 panels (lower 2 flush and top 4 raised),moulded architrave, and lead-covered bracketed flat hood. Probably C18 two-storey addition projecting to left with ground-floor 2-light casement and first-floor glazing bar sash to north, plat band, and probably altered mono-pitch roof. One storey C19 kitchen block in angle at rear with integral brick end stack. Interior: C17 with c.1700 alterations; dining room: C18 raised and fielded panelling with dado rail, moulded cornice, and 6-panelled door; drawing room: C18 fireplace with lugged architrave and moulded cornice, and wainscot panelling; c.1660 dog-leg staircase with closed string, turned balusters, moulded handrail, and square newel post with finial; bedrooms: one with C17 panelling and C18 bolection- moulded fireplace surround; one with C18 bolection-moulded wainscot panelling, fireplace surround, and doors; one with C17 chimney-piece consisting of Ionic colonnettes flanking fireplace, overmantel with pilasters dividing lugged panels, and frieze and moulded cornice; second floor with boarded doors. "G/T.H" are the initials of Thomas Griffiths and his son Henry. It has been suggested (Forrest) that the house was formerly L-shaped with an entrance to the east and that the house was altered to its present condition c.1700 by Henry Biggs when the entrance was moved and a new dining room added with a bedroom over. It is suggested that the apparent similarity in the brickwork is due to the reuse of materials. V.C.H., vol VIII, pp. 191-2; H. E. Forrest, Some old Shropshire houses and their owners,(1924), pp. 47-51.

Listing NGR: SJ3946213965

External Links

• Wikidata Q17551050

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Recommended Books

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)