Survey Data
Reg No
20903920
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical
Original Use
House
In Use As
House
Date
1830 - 1835
Coordinates
130171, 93885
Date Recorded
03/10/2006
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey over half-basement house, dated 1834, having entrance breakfront to front elevation and stairs return to rear, with two-bay single-storey over basement extension to rear, having recent lean-to single-storey extension. Hipped slate roof with overhanging eaves, render eaves course and rendered chimneystacks. Half-hipped slate roof to additon, with rendered chimneystack. Painted rendered walls with render plinth course and giant order Doric-style pilasters to corners and to breakfront. Painted limestone date plaque to rear. Square-headed window openings with nine-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to ground floor of front elevation and gables, six-over-six pane window to first floor of north gable, and round-headed margined six-over-six pane window to rear return with spoked fanlight. Round-headed window to rear elevation having double-light timber casement windows with spoked fanlight. Replacement uPVC windows elsewhere, paired to first floor of windbreak. All windows having painted stone sills. Round-headed door opening with ornate cobweb fanlight over timber panelled door flanked by engaged Doric-style columns with limestone plinths, approached by flight of diminishing limestone steps with cast-iron railings having decorative finials to newels. Square-profile painted rendered piers with caps and wrought-iron double-leaf vehicular and pedestrian gates, set to painted rendered walls.
Appraisal
Keale House was built in 1834 by John Leader, to replace an earlier house which now forms part of the farmyard to the south-east. The ornate and unusual giant order pilasters articulate the form of the house, which is also enlivened by the breakfront, which serves to divide the planes of the regular façade. The decorative focus of the house is the doorway, with its flight of limestone steps with ornate railings, imparting an air of grandeur to the entrance. The spoked fanlight is particularly decorative with floral roundels and foliate motif and the engaged columns framing the door continue the Doric theme of the pilasters. The retention of varied timber sash windows, especially the margined round-headed stair window, is notable. Set in a mature landscape, the house retains its fine outbuildings and entrance gates.