Description

BRADFORD PRIESTACOTT
SS 40 NW

6/33 The Rectory
-

- II

House, formerly the rectory. A heavy remodelling in 1845 of what was a medieval
house. Walls of small stone rubble blocks, partly rendered at the rear. Gable-
ended slate roof with decorative bargeboards. 3 brick stacks to right-hand range -
one at its gable-end and 2 axial, on stone bases with diagonal shafts. Left-hand
cross-wing has a brick stack to its front gable and one at the rear on a projecting
rubble base.
Plan: the thoroughness of the C19 remodelling has virtually obscured the plan of
the earlier house but an early window survives in the cross wing and evidence of an
old fireplace in the main range suggets that the size of the house may not have been
radically altered in the C19 and the basic room arrangement pre-dates the
remodelling. The cross wing at the left end is 2 rooms long, each heated, and the
main range to its right consists of an entrance hall at its left end and 2 rooms to
the right; these are both reached by a corridor incorporated into a rear lean-to
with service rooms behind and a staircase at tne rear of the entrance hall. The
cross wing was also probably extended at the rear in the C19 partly for outbuilding
or service uses.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4-window front, all the fenestration dating from
the C19 with left-nand window in the large projecting gable of the cross-wing. On
the 1st floor this has an oriel window with transomed wooden mullion - extending
below it is a projecting stone pier, with sundial on its face, incorporatng chimney
stack. On ground floor to either side is a single light with arched head and
dripcourse above. Buttress at either side of this wall. The right-hand range has
two 3-light casements on the 1st floor and 1 on the ground floor to the right which
have stone hoodmoulds which might possibly pre-date the C19 remodelling. At the
centre on the ground floor is a canted bay window. To its right, adjoining a
buttress, is a small stone slit with ogee bead. Single storey gabled porch to left
of bay has carved heraldic shield and the date 1845 in its gable. Roundheaded;
doorway with C19 plank door benind. Above porch is a 2-light stone mullion window
with shouldered arched lights. Some of the actual casements have been removed in
tne C20 but the form of the windows remains unaltered. Year the front of the left-
hand wall of the cross wing a C15 or early C16 2-light stone mullion window with 4-
centred heads survives on the ground floor which may have been partly restored in
the C19.
Interior: front room of cross-wing has C17 ceiling joists which are chamfered and
step-stopped but the ceiling is unlikely to be in its original form. Throughout the
house the Victorian joinery is very complete and of a good quality incorporating
panelled doors and Gothic arches and chimneypieces. Good open well staircase which
curves round with heavy turned newels with ball finials and turned balusters.
Stained glass stair window apparently incorporate a medieval shield.
This is a fine example of a good quality mid C19 rectory surviving in a very
unaltered state with the added interest of some earlier remains.

Listing NGR: SS4264506676

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26456301

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

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)