Description

PONTEFRACT CASTLE CHAIN
SE 4622 SW
6/15 Nos 2, 4 and 6
(formerly listed as No 2
5.11.68 Castle Chain, No 6 Castle
Chain and Castle Chain
House)

GV II

2 houses now 1, with later cottage. C17 or earlier in origin, extended late C18,
considerably altered in late C19. Rusticated coursed sandstone with ashlar
dressings to Castle Chain, rendered to sides and rear; plain tile roofs. 2 storeys
and basement; 2:1:2:2 first-floor windows. The Castle Chain elevation has 3
sections, representing the three addresses, all with different roof heights, the
largest and tallest unit being in the centre (No 4), flanked by an original smaller
unit (No 6) to the left, and a later small unit (No 2) to the right; the appearance
is of a late C19 Gothic-Revival building, but some elements are authentic
to some extent, for example, the round turret at the left end of the central unit
contains an early spiral staircase leading down to the basement; the windows are
C19 double-chamfered mullioned, with an elaborate continuous hoodmould stepped
around the ground-floor windows which are at many levels. Ground floor, from left:
4-light window; studded oak board door in basked-arched surround with, above, coat
of arms of 3 lions couchant; 2 slits in turret; 2-light window with dripmould;
3-light window; matching door with, above, original coat of arms of Duchy of
Lancaster; 3-light window; added cottage with 4-panel door in chamfered triangular-
headed surround, 3-light window. First floor, from left: 3- and 2-light windows
to No 6, the former rising as a pent-roofed dormer; 2 slits to turret; two 3-light
windows in main house; 2- and 3-light windows in No 2. No 4, including the turret,
has a corbel table. Ridge stacks to,left of door in No 6; near left end and at
right end of No 4; to right end of No 2 clay decorative ridge tiles. Interior:
basement windows to garden front are side-sliding sashes and have fielded-panel
shutters; chamfered beams in basement-; stone spiral staircase between basement and
ground floor; ground-floor parlour in No 6 has early C18 fire surround with egg-and-
dart motif, and cornucopiae and draped centre-piece to frieze; cavetto ceiling
cornice; large ground-floor room of No 4 has central chamfered spine-beam with
chamfered joists to first floor and late Cl6-early Cl7 fireplace with Atlantes and
caryatids on herms; first-floor room at west end of No 4 has ashlar fireplace with
four-centred arch and broach stops to chamfer. A similar smaller fireplace, with
mason's marks, said to exist in the loft. The roof is said to have been raised
in the late C19, leaving the older lower roof structure.

Listing NGR: SE4604322234

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26587252

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

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)