Listed Building: THE RIDING HOUSE (106224)

CHARMINSTER WOLFETON SY 6792 The Riding House (formerly listed as Wolfeton Barn) 13/36 26.1.56 - II* Riding House. Late C16. Ashlar stone walls on the east, south and west, squared and coursed rubble on the north. Later alterations are in coursed rubble of poor quality. Slate roof with gable ends. South elevation has a plinth with chamfered footing course and ogee moulded capping, divided into 7 bays by weathered buttresses, easterly bay thrice normal width. Secondary external stone stair in westerly bay with buttress removed. Centre of wide east bay, round headed doorway, with plinth mouldings returned downwards each side, above the doorway is a small carved lion mask. The fourth and south bays from the east, mullioned windows of 3 square headed lights, blocked, with weathered labels. Remains of a similar label in the second bay. Alterations: Bay 1: 2-light casement with segmental head inserted. Bay 2: large openings to ground and upper floors, with planking. Bay 4: small single light C20 window. Bay 6: plank doorway inserted with segmental head, C19. Bay 7: plank doorway with segmental head at top of secondary stair. West wall has 2 weathered buttresses and moulded plinths. Round headed doorway to south with continuous ogee and hollow chamfered mouldings. Two 3-light mullion windows, ground and upper storey with labels. North elevation: weathered buttress near the north east corner, and another buttress near the middle of the elevation. Blocked round window near eastern buttress and 2 blocked rectangular openings near the eaves. All other openings on the north elevation are secondary. The large barn doorway may well replace a narrower original doorway. East wall has plinth, buttresses, upper window. Five small round windows in two tiers. Interior: original first floor removed, but most of the beams upon which it rested remain, chamfered and measure 300 mm by 300 mm in section. The beams supported both a floor and independent ceiling. To the north the beams are housed in the wall; to the south they rest on rounded stone corbels which project from the wall directly above the level of timber lintels spanning the window recesses. The roof has been extensively strutted and repaired. As a building type, this is of considerable architectural importance. (RCHM Dorset III p 69(5) for fuller description, plan, elevations and plate) Listing NGR: SY6785192254

Record last edited

Sep 9 2023 7:24AM