Listed Building record MDR10865 - The Stone House, Church Square, Melbourne

The Stone House, Church Square, Melbourne, a 17th century building. 'The Stone House, which belongs to the Melbourne Hall Estate, stands opposite the south side of the church facing north towards it; behind it are extensive gardens running down towards the Pool, with a boathouse, a well in a stone shelter dated 1829, and a shallow semicircular pool built of stone, said to be for washing clothes. When seen from the south the house has three storeys and an attic, but the slope of the ground means that that the lowest storey becomes a basement on the north side. The two-cell house was built in 1673, and soon after alterations were made to the west end. It is built of fairly coarse rubble stonework, incorporating a few clay tiles here and there which seem to be aprt of the original fabric. Many of the internal partitions are timber framed, and it appearrs that the gable ends of the house are timber framed also. It was a convenient workplace for Robert Bakewell during his time at Melbourne from 1706-1711, when he made ironwork for Thomas Coke and other clients, and it is suggested that there was a forge at the house before Bakewell's time. Later the stone house was occupied by the estate agent, and then became the traditional residence of the Melbourne Hall gardener.' (1) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 38/3925 PARISH OF MELBOURNE CHURCH CLOSE 6/95 (South Side) 10.11.67 Tithe Cottage GV II House. C17, with early C20 addition and early C19 and C20 alterations. Rubble stone with flush quoins and stone dressings, plus rendered plinth. Plain tile roofs with large rendered central ridge stack to C17 house and rendered side wall stack to the addition. Owing to the difference in the land levels the south elevation has three storeys plus attics and the north elevation has two storeys. Four bays, with lobby entrance plan, and two bay western addition. Northern street elevation has a central C19 Gothick stone porch with a pointed arch on moulded responds and a returned hoodmould over, plus moulded cornice to top. Behind, is a chamfered C17 doorcase with glazed panelled door and coved dripmould, plus a raised shield above. To either side there are blocked, formerly 3-light mullioned, windows and beyond to west there is a C20 small pane window in a chamfered segment headed opening. Above, there is a tiny window over the porch and to east a 2-light horizontal sliding glazing bar sash in C17 opening. To west there is a blocked C17 opening with a single light window beyond. South elevation has two 3-light recessed and chamfered mullioned windows with dripmoulds and casements to ground floor, with C19 door to west. Above there is a small oval window with dripmould to west and a small paned 2-light window to east in a C17 surround with dripmould, which has been broken through the base. Beyond to east there is a central single light recessed and chamfered window, a similar 2-light mullioned window with dripmould and an inserted small pane C20 window. Above again there is a small, central single light window with 2-light casement windows to either side, set in C17 surrounds, but breaking through the bases. To west is a single light window. Above again there are two roof dormers with hipped roofs and casement windows. Western addition is pebbledashed to south elevation and has a glazed door to east with segment headed 2-light casement window to west and similar window above. Interior has timber framed cross wall to centre, plain straight stairs, one large inglenook and a huge hearth to the ground floor which Robert Bakewell used as his workshop in Melbourne. Listing NGR: SK3889924971.' (2)