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

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

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings