Clonsedy House

Detached two-bay two-storey house, built c.1820 and subsequently remodelled, with entrance at first floor level through entrance porch to east (side) elevation, approached by flight of twelve steps, and having single-storey extension to west elevation with pitched slate roof. Yard to rear (north) with outbuildings. Hipped slate roof with over-sailing eaves with carved timber consoles, and red brick chimneystacks with terracotta pots. Formerly rendered rubble stone walls with some lime render remaining to west elevation. Square-headed window openings with flush reveals and stone lintels. Replacement six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to ground floor front elevation, rear elevation, east side elevation and to north bay of west side elevation. Bipartite two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with central timber mullion and convex horns to front elevation first floor and south bay of west elevation, and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows to ground floor of west elevation. Square-headed door opening to porch with timber panelled door. Elliptical carriage arch with dressed stone voussoirs to ground floor rear of entrance porch. Yard to rear formed by two-storey two-bay outbuilding to north range, with attached three-bay single-storey outbuilding forming east range, and four-bay two-storey outbuilding to west range, with further two-bay single-storey outbuilding to west of latter. Pitched slate roofs, lime-washed rubble stone walls, and square-headed openings with timber battened fittings. Elliptical carriage arch to north range, with timber battened double-leaf doors. Wrought-iron gates and dressed stone piers to yard. Rubble stone boundary walls and round-plan gate piers to front site boundary with wrought-iron double-leaf gate. Stream runs parallel to main road inside front boundary.

This is an attractive middle-sized house that was substantially altered in the mid-nineteenth century, its resulting shifting window positions and varying styles adding character and an interesting form to the building. The first floor entrance is unusual in rural houses, and it breaks the convention of diminishing windows typical in buildings of its time, indicating that the ground floor may once have been a half-basement. The outbuildings retain much of their original features and create a pleasant working courtyard to the rear of the house. The buildings are positioned on an elevated site yet have a discreet presence due to the surrounding trees.