Building record 14991 - The Nook, Weston Road, Runcorn

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1130443 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

The Nook, Grade II Listed: House mid C18 Roughcast stone and brickwork with slate roof. 2 storeys 6 bays. Stone doorcase with moulded architrave and stone segimental arch with key. Six panel door with fielded upper panels and radial bar fanlight. Sash windows with glazing bars but some openings built up. Exposed stonework at the rear. The roof has a sandstone ridge.

<2> Nexus Heritage, 2019, The Nook, Weston Road, Runcorn: Heritage Statement, R4339 (Client Report). SCH8746.

A heritage statement and photographic survey was produced in 2019 for The Nook, Weston Road, Runcorn, in support of a proposal to extend and convert the stable bay of the property into a separate residence. The Nook, dating to the mid-eighteenth century, is Grade II listed and is located within the Highter Runcorn Conservation Area.

Historic map regression suggests that The Nook may be depicted on Burdett's map of Higher Runcorn dating to 1777. The Tithe Map of circa 1845 identifies the owner as Anne Orred, the occupier as William Forster, and describes the plot as 'House & Garden'. The large-scale OS map of 1874 provides a more detailed depiction of the building and confirms that the porch along the east-facing elevaton was present, also the set-back of the stable bay from the east-facing elevation, is discernable. The OS map of 1911 shows the current footprint of the building to be in existence, also it depicts several outbuildings to the south-west, south and south-east. The OS map of 1939 plots the footprint of the building differently, with the discrimination of the porch lost, also some of the outbuildings have been removed and new ones constructed.

The Nook is described as of white-washed, roughcast sandstone and brick, with some render. Courses comprise broadly regular lengths of same-sized stone blocks with every horizontal joint continuous. The roof is dual pitch with a flat roof over the porch. The roof is of slate with a sandstone ridge and two chimneys. The window openings are of differing sizes, shapes and frames. The stable is a two-storey constructions with two horse stalls on the ground floor and a hayloft above. The slightly larger size of one of the stalls suggests it may have been a foaling stall.