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

• Historic England Listing
• 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

• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
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  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)