Building record 14325 - Greysfield, Great Barrow, Nineteenth Century Villa

<1> University of Salford (Centre for Applied Archaeology), 2017, Historic Building Investigation: Greysfield, Ferma Lane, Great Barrow, Cheshire West and Chester, R4214 (Client Report). SCH8538.

An historic building assessment was undertaken for Greysfield, a former residential home on Ferma Lane, Great Barrow, in advance of conversion into residential apartments. Greysfield is a large, domestic villa, dating to the late nineteenth century and designed by Scottish architect WH Kelly. It is not listed, but lies within the Great Barrow Conservation Area, and is considered to be a non-designated heritage asset of local significance. The sandstone and brick fabric of the property, together with timber-framed upper storeys, impart a strong and distinctive Cheshire character.

Greysfield was erected was built between 1875 and 1883 as a villa residence, and is an irregular shaped, three-storey structure. The building is of brick and sandstone construction, with timber-framed upper storeys. The southern elevation forms the front of the house, and is six bays wide and three bays high. The ground floor windows are square in shape of mullion and transom design with sandstone sills and lintels. Two entrances are located within this elevation; one at the eastern end and a second at the western end. The eastern entrance to the house is accessed via a set of sandstone steps, which are covered by a half-round porch. The porch has a flat roof and is supported by four rendered sandstone, Ionic-style columns. The door is of oak and has been hung on a sandstone doorframe, which has a false four-centred arched head with a two-light fanlight along with a splayed jamb. The western entrance is accessed via a set of brick risers and tread steps to the west. It is covered with a brick-built porch with timber-framing, which has a pitched slate roof. This porch conceals an oak door, hung on a sandstone doorframe, which has sandstone, segmental pendant. Either side of the door is a set of windows, which has a stone mullion, chamfered stone sills and lintels. The first-floor windows are a mixture of bayed and rectangular shape, which all contain single-glazed pains. Dormer windows are located on the second floor, and are single glazed timber-framed with half-round moulded beading

The historic building investigation has enabled a basic record of Greyfields and its grounds to be compiled. This work confirmed that the interior of the building was subject to comprehensive refurbishment during its conversion to a residential care home, with the resultant loss of historic fixtures and fittings, especially on the upper floor where very few features of historic interest survive in-situ. The ground floor was similarly subject to refurbishment, although several fireplaces that appear to be original survive in place.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4668, 1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Not depicted on this map.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4668, 1898-1899 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

The original layout of the building is captured on this map.