House, now partly offices. Circa 1840 and later, possibly with earlier core. Coursed squared gritstone, ashlar dressings and quoins. Stone slate and slate roofs with leaded ridges. Twin and triple octagonal ridge, gable end and side wall stacks. Continuous, heavily moulded copings with rosette ridge finials to south and east. Embattled parapets between ridgeback coped gables with mid point triangles and ball finials. Two storeys, six bays. East elevation - three gabled bays with recessed, embattled bays between. Central bay with tripartite glazing bar sash in deeply moulded aedicule with Tudor dripmould over. To north, similar single sash. 20th century window beyond. To north again, later single storey addition. To south of central bay, glazed door and twin glazing bar sashes in moulded aedicule. Large porch over supported by four square piers. Moulded cornice over, projecting to sides and centre. Beyond, to south, later bay window with tripartite full height window. Parapet wall over with central pediment. Ball finials to sides and centre. Above, five glazing bar sashes in similar edicules to those below. Central window, tripartite with margin glazing bar sashes. Inserted 20th century window above similar to north. East elevation later with chamfered mullion, and occasionally transomed windows. Porch over door to south with quatrefoil piers and attached shafts, segmental arches under plain cornice. South facade has large external stack with arch at base incorporating garden seat. (1) Nobody knows if there were earlier houses on the site, though Bess of Hardwick and her second husband bought the Ashford and Sheldon estate in the fourth year of their marriage, two years before they began to build the first house at Chatsworth. The evidence is not conclusive, but it is highly probable that 'Churchdale' was built sometime between 1768 and 1831, where it was noted that the Duke of Devonshire spent £448 19s for ' the repair of the house and outbuildings at Churchdale'. The house as it is seen today was probably built for the Duke of Devonshire's Chatsworth agent. Samuel Smithers lived there when he was agent in the 1840s, his predocessor WA Ashby was almost certainly there in 1830and others may have occupied the house while they hled the office before that. Originally as small, simple, double-fronted house, Churchdale grew gradually over the years. The house is a puzzle of different periodsand different styles. One of the best features of Churchdale is the curving staircase with its metal balusters and wooden handrail. (2)