Small country house, c.1600. Probably by Robert Smythson for Henry Hewett. Altered c.1700 by Sir Thomas Hewett Surveyor of Woods North of Trent 1696-1716 and Surveyor of the Royal Works 1719-26, for himself. Partly demolished and gutted c.1811. Restored 1812 and further restored post-1975. Coursed squared rubble with slate roofs. Ashlar dressings, chamfered plinth, first floor and lintel bands, string courses, coped parapet, partly battlemented. 2 rear wall and single side wall stacks. 3 storeys plus casement, 7 bays, cross plan. Irregular south west front has off-centre panelled door with overlight, flanked to left by 3 glazing bar sashes and to right by mullioned and transomed opening to basement and single glazing bar sash. Above, 3 blocked openings and 2 glazing bar sashes. Above again, 5 blocked openings. South east front has projecting central bay with French window with moulded hood, flanked to left by 2 light mullioned basement window and single plain sash, and to right late C19 addition, coursed squared rubble with hipped slate roof and 2 mullioned windows, that to left blocked. Above, tall central glazing bar sash flanked to left by tall chamfered and rebated blocked opening and similar square unglazed opening, and to right by single glazing bar sash. Above again, 2 central tall blocked openings, and to left, 2 six light mullioned and transomed windows. Rear addition has 2 mullioned and transomed windows and above, 3 glazing bar sashes; doorway in return angle. North east rear elevation has irregular fenestration with chamfered doorway to right, now glazed, single C19 glazing bar sash, blocked opening and unglazed opening. North west side has full height projecting bay to left and to right, remains of lean-to outbuildings, and attached laundry building, c.1700, with hipped pantile roof and large C20 opening. Basement has, to left, chamfered and rebated doorway and in projecting bay, similar doorway and blocked opening. Outbuildings have single cross-transomed window. Above, irregular fenestration with 2 C19 plain sashes, single cross-transomed window, partly blocked, and 7 blocked openings. Basements contain 2 chamfered square headed ashlar doorways, similar segmental headed doorway, and blocked Tudor arched kitchen fireplace with flanking openings. Entrance hall has C18 fielded panelling; drawing room to left has C19 moulded cornice and bolection moulded marble fireplace; closet, to rear, has C17 framed panelling and C19 marble fireplace; dining room, to right, has late C17 moulded surround with scroll top to French window; study, to right, has C18 fielded panelling, moulded cornice and dado, and C18 pierced oak door; stairwell, to right, has original spiral stair with square ashlar newel and stone treads. First floor has, to right, Classical impost to first floor doorway; passage contains mullioned borrowed light and keystone and imposts of Hall fireplace; some half-height framed panelling, 3 C19 fireplaces and 3 C19 panelled doors. Sources: Colvin, Pevsner and Thoroton Society. (NCC/js)