Building record MAB34427 - WESTHALL

Farmstead (B-listed) with two farmhouses (one B-listed and the other C-listed), and the site of a dovecot.

Farmstead (B-listed) with two farmhouses (one B-listed and the other C-listed), and the site of a dovecot. The farmstead is still in use, the earlier farmhouse has been converted to general farm use, and the later farmhouse is still in residential use. The farmstead is probably built on the site of an earlier mansion house. According to the 19th century antiquarian Warden, Westhall mansion and its dovecot are mentioned in circa 1684-5, and that the property itself is first mentioned in circa 1526. A visit by the OS in 1958 found no remains of an earlier building, but a there is a skewputt in the farmstead dated 1666. The dovecot was also seen at this time, and was typical of a 17th or early-18th century date. The earlier farmhouse is shown on Edward's 1678 map. The new farmhouse was built in the early 19th century, and the farmstead was built in the earlier to mid 19th century. On the 1st edition OS map, the farmstead is roughly E-plan, open to the south-east, with a horsemill at the north corner. The south-west court is divided into two, with the rear court enclosed. To the west of the steading are an L-plan and T-plan farmhouse, and there are four associated rectangular buildings to the north of the farmhouses. To the north of the farmhouse is a pond and well. To the north-west of the farm buildings is a rectangular dovecot with an adjacent rectangular enclosure to the south-east. On the 2nd edition OS map, the rear enclosed court has been filled, the horsemill has been removed and extensions to the north-east range. Two of the associated buildings are unroofed, there is an additional unroofed building or enclosure to the north and the well is now depicted as a pump. The enclosure adjacent to the dovecot has been removed. Current maps show further alterations to the steading, the dovecot and associated buildings, aside from the farmhouses, have all been removed, and the pond infilled. The farmstead has been partially demolished, but the present buildings include a seven-bay cart shed and granary. It is constructed from snecked sandstone rubble with picked ashlar dressings, a corrugated asbestos roof and some timber doors. By the skewputt dated 1666 is another skewputt initialled 'M' and 'A P'. The old farmhouse has a later addition and alterations to the original 17th century building, including a reduction in height. It is a single-storey L-plan farmhouse, which was later converted for general farm use. It is constructed from pink and buff sandstone rubble, with rough-hewn ashlar quoins, a stone-slate roof and beak skewputts. There is a lean-to on the west elevation, which at the time of the listing (1991) has a collapsed roof. The new farmhouse is a two-storey, T-plan farmhouse, constructed from coursed and squared stugged sandstone rubble, with some snecking. There are margined ashlar dressings and a grey slate piended roof with tall wallhead stacks. Some of the windows are blind with painted astragals. At the centre of the south elevation is a panelled door with a plain fanlight with a moulded cornice approached by three steps. There is a lean-to with a corrugated-asbestos roof on the east elevation. Inside, there are the remains of a box bed in the first floor of the service wing. There are rubble boundary walls at the south and west of the house.

Period Notes
The buildings are on the site of a mansion house that was probably 17th century, although antiquarian Warden says it is first mentioned in circa 1526. A skewputt dated 1666 has probably been re-used from the previous mansion. The older farmhouse is 17th century with later additions and alterations. The new farmhouse is early-19th century, and the farmstead buildings are early- to mid-19th century. The steading and two farmhouses were listed on 10/12/1991.

Warden, A J, 1880-5, [Untitled], Vol. 5, 31-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10085.

Record last edited

Mar 4 2020 4:34PM