Rock Abbey

Detached five-bay two-storey with attic over half-basement house, built c.1780, with three-storey return and two-storey lean-to extension to rear and having pedimented breakfront with elaborate timber porch to front. Half-hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks to rear slope of roof, cast-iron rainwater goods and dressed limestone copings. Dressed limestone pediment to breakfront. Roughcast rendered walls with render quoins and having plat-band to eaves. Six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows throughout with limestone sills and render reveals, square-headed except for round-headed window in breakfront, latter with paned fanlight. Segmental-headed door opening with render surround, timber panelled door and simple spoked fanlight. Flat-roofed timber porch to front of doorway with limestone steps and having open ends and enclosed centre. Carved timber cornice supported on fluted timber columns to front corners and fluted timber pilasters to centre flanking half-glazed half-timber-panelled openings, with similar pilasters to wall of house. Outbuildings to site with pitched slate roofs and rendered walls. Rubble limestone boundary walls to site with dressed limestone coping and entrance gates comprising vehicular entrance flanked by pedestrian entrances, latter with dressed limestone lintels and with rubble limestone piers having dressed limestone caps and cast-iron gates.

This house, set in mature landscaping, is notable for its central breakfront, a typical feature of the domestic architecture of its time. Its façade is enlivened by the varied window openings and render quoins. The decorative porch relates well with the form of the structure and is composed of skilfully executed timber craft.