Photographic record. Main section of building dates from between 1845 to 1848, however this could be earlier. An original conservatory of 1845 was presumably dismantled and then re-erected in the 1860s along with adding the south range of the building. The dining room block was added in the 1880s. (1) A grade II* listed country house, now a residential home. There are three principal building phases: firstly a summer villa built c. 1845-48 for John Allcard, banker and stockbroker to a design by Paxton and John Robertson; the interior fittings by AWN Pugin executed by JG Crace, Minton, Hardman and George Myers. The second phase: c. 1856-58 extensions for William Allcard, railway engineer, to a design by TD Barry of Liverpool and EW Pugin. And the third phase: further additions in 1888 for Smith Taylor-Whitehead by JB Mitchel-Withers. It has been constructed of deeply-coursed tooled sandstone with ashlar dressings, and has slate roofs with rolled-lead ridges. When completed the house formed a U-shaped plan around an entrance courtyard; the north range was demolished in 1949 and replaced by the present building of 1972 by Robert Quie Associates. The house is of two storeys with partial attics; and has a single-storey (former) conservatory. The house is starred because the early work (although now incomplete) presents what has been described as a 'virtual epitome of early Victorian visual taste' (set in grounds landscaped by Paxton). The later ranges are handled very sensitively and create a complex 19th century house of considerable distinction. See list description for more details. (2)