Description

SE3212 and SE3213 WOOLLEY NEW ROAD
(west side)

7/136 The Old Court House
14.2.52 (formerly listed as
Beech Farmhouse)

GV II

House. Fragmentary remains of mid C16 timber frame encased in stone mid C17,
south front refenestrated early C18, mid C20 alterations. Large dressed stone,
stone slate roof. Square-on-plan. 2 storeys. 2-cell plan double-depth with
possibly gable-entry originally. The main range to south is roofed east-west,
rear roofed in 2 parallel north-south ranges, giving a double-gabled north
front. South front: 3 bays. Chamfered plinth broken by inserted doorway of
C20 character with wood and glass door; above, sash window with architrave and
projecting sill. 1st bay has C20 sashes (disturbed stonework). 3rd bay has
3-light double-chamfered cruciform window with almost square reveals to each
floor. At junction between 2nd and 3rd bays is distinct break in stonework.
Coped gables with kneelers. Large external stack to left, ridge stack to right
gable. North front (rear) has plinth and 2 bays of double-chamfered mullioned
windows probably entirely restored mid C20 with windows from Horton Old Hall,
Bradford. Windows are of 5 lights except ground-floor 2nd bay window which has
6 lights and transom with king-mullion. Carried over ground floor is inserted
hoodmould with carved stops (wrongly aligned in a vertical position). Small
chamfered light to gables. Twin coped gables with kneelers and lantern finials
to apexes and kneelers. Set between gables is decorative lead pipe, the
rainwater head initialled "N B E". Right-hand return has C20 doorway with C18
window in architrave above. To right, former 2-light double-chamfered window
lacking mullion with traces of original hoodmould above and chamfered light to
1st floor. Left-hand return has paired external stacks which have short coped
gables (that to left has kneeler), cornices and ashlar flues, set at junction
of these stacks is doorway perhaps in original position covered by brick porch
attached to adjacent house not of special interest, above, 4-light window inserted
mid C20. To left of 1st stack small chamfered light to each floor marks perhaps
the site of the original stair.

Interior: scanty remains of earlier timber frame in internal division between
wings. Housebody: now as open hall the original floor removed, with galleried
stair with finely-turned C17 balusters re-used from Horton Old Hall, Bradford;
very large fireplace with segmental lintel with a false keystone. One chamber
has exposed truss of large scantling with massive tie-beam, single angle struts,
diamond-set ridge.

Prominently sited in the middle of the village fronting the Green.

Listing NGR: SE3216413152

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26428912

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)