Building record 15296 - Well Bank House, Well Bank Lane, Over Pevoer

<1> Kathryn Sather & Associates, 2020, Mount Pleasant and Well Bank House: Significance Assessment, R4516 (Client Report). SCH9052.

A statement of significance was produced for Well Bank House in 2020 prior to proposed development. The following information is taken from the study.

The Tithe Map of 1841 depicts two buildings on the site of Well Bank House, indicating that the core of the house dates back to this time. Plot 195, containing the house, was owned by Peter Taylor and Joseph Burgess and occupied by Peter Taylor and Charles Eveson. The plot is a triangular shape, containing a narrow rectangle of a building with a second, smaller building to its north-west. The same ownership and occupancy applies to: Plot 194 to the south a garden, Plot 193 a meadow, Plot 196 a meadow to the immediate north and Plot 197 arable. The 1st edition OS map of 1876 show that walls now connect the two buildings and the field boundaries of Plots 195 and 194 have become a single plot. The OS map of 1898 shows that, a second parallel range of buildings is now attached to north of the original building of the house (suggesting a double pile construction), also a single building is shown to the north-west. By 1909 the latter is shown as extended, although it could also be with two small yards to its north, such as those outside a pigsty.

Well Bank House:-
Well Bank House currently is of white-painted brick with a slate roof (lead on the bow windows). The later single-storey to the north-east is not painted. Windows are metal-framed but there are some timber frames. The house is approached via a curving drive from the north-west. It is a two-storey building of irregular form, with a double pile roof with a connecting cross gable. To the north-east is a single storey extension comprising a central section under a gable roof, a section to the north under a lean-to roof (with a stable door to the utility room) and an open porch with lean-to roof to the south (door to the kitchen). The south gable has a chimney and is lower in height than the north gable. The windows are all large single pane casement windows.

The south-east elevation comprises three sections: the north bay is set slightly back from the central section and the roof slope is slightly steeper, with a chimney at the gable. It has a 3-light casement window immediately under the eaves and at ground floor there is an off-centre bow window; this appears to have been added at a later date, based on the timber and roof work. The rainwater goods and soffits of this section of the roof appear to pre-date the metal window. The central section features a French window set into a bow window with a square window and a three-light casement window at first floor. The most southerly bay features a single off-centre 2-light window at ground floor and first floor; a large conservatory extends to the southwest on the ground floor. The south-west elevation is characterised by the twin gables of the double pile roof and the projecting gable of the southwest corner with the conservatory. Unlike the northeast elevation, the gables appear to be of equal width and the connecting cross gable is visible. An open porch is tucked into the return, with the roof supported by a timber pillar. The conservatory is balanced by a wide bay window with multiple lights and upper vents. The north-west elevation is the narrowest and features the chimneybreast and tall chimney with a gablet roof to one side. To the north is side the single storey extension under the lean-to roof of the utility room.

The interior of the house retains no historic features. If the house originally comprised a single range, extended by a second range to the north, the earlier plan form has been greatly altered. In the south-east a morning room (with bow window and fireplace) leads into a kitchen and on to the utility room (both overlooking the north-east elevation). A square central hall with staircase on two sides, gives access to the other rooms. Based on review of the historic maps, the oldest section of the building, dating from before 1841, was in the south-east. The house was later extended to the south-west and north.

Well Bank Outbuilding/Stable Building:-
The building to the north-east of Well Bank House dates from between 1909-1969. Built of white-washed brick with a slate roof, it comprises an older section to the south and a recently built or rebuilt section to the north. The roof is replacement, with modern timbers and two decorative lanterns. The south section has a stone flagged floor and there are strap hinges on the timber plank door; the windows are timber but replaced. There is a modern brick partition wall dividing the structure into two. The floor of the north section is concrete screed. The stable building is a single storey, 4-bay structure separated into sections, each with a door and window to the southwest. The pitched roof has two louvred lantern structures which are purely decorative. There are no internal features to suggest that it was a stable.

The interior of the south section is white-washed and features a stone floor. The window is timber framed with no opening vents. The stable-door is much patched but may have some original door furniture. To the north the brickwork of the new partition wall differs from the bricks of the other walls; the profile is much sharper. The interior of the south section is not white-washed and the modern date of the brickwork is immediately apparent. The stable door has a brick cill and the 4-pane window has an opening upper vent.