Country house and terrace. Dated 1872 for Robert Middleton. Italian craftsmen employed on interiors. Yellow and red brick, some ashlar, stucco, terracotta and iron. Slate roofs. Decorative iron ridge cresting. Set on a plinth. West front, in the main of yellow brick with 2 brick stacks each with 2 decorative stucco shafts. To the rear are similar stacks with varying number of shafts. Single storey with 2 storey single central bay. 5 bays. The outer single bays project and are polygonal with pyramidal fishscale slate roofs, topped with decorative iron lanterns, with decorative iron eaves supported on decorative iron brackets and dentil eaves band. The single central bay slightly projects and is gabled with ashlar coping, kneelers and the remains of a single finial. A decorative iron band follows the line of the gable. Central projecting closed porch. Doorway, 2 steps up, with Tudor arched doorway with double pointed arched panelled door. Jambs and arch decorated with stylised leaves and central finial. Moulded surround with decorative cusped panels in the spandrels. Over extends a raised band, a frieze of small inset terracotta panels decorated with fleuron, a band of dentil and a moulded cornice. Topped with decorative iron cresting. To the right of the doorway is a decorative iron bell pull. The side walls each have a single tall similarly arched fixed light with ashlar lintel. To the right of the porch is an ashlar stone inscribed "R.M. 1872". At the angles of this bay and rising to the first floor are single narrow decorative iron panels each consisting of 3 vertically placed cusped blind arches, topped with a single quatrefoil. In the single bays to the left and right are single canted windows each with 2 sashes to the front and single sashes at each side. All are Tudor arched and have lateral glazing bars. Separating each are wooden pilaster strips decorated with recessed pointed arched panels each with single central colonnette, all have acanthus capitals. The shaped flush brick lintels have ashlar blocks at the springing. Over is a raised band, a band of billet, a frieze of foliate decorated terracotta panels and a moulded cornice, these bands extend into the outer bays. The canted bays are topped with decorative iron cresting. The outer projecting bays each have 3 similar sashes. Each sash is set into a recessed panel with raised brick quoins. Over the sash and supported on single crocket capitals is a hood mould, the spandrels decorated with cusped panels. Over the cornice band are single rectangular panels containing several small inset terracotta panels decorated with fleuron. Above, central bay has a single Tudor arched 3 light window with intersecting tracery, lateral and lozenge glazing bars, mask keystone, hood mould and decorative label stops. Over is a single rectangular panel with single quatrefoil and above is a shield inscribed "R.M.". The south/right side, single storey plus attic, 4 bays, has the band of billet, plain frieze and moulded cornice continuing from the front. At the right angle are raised brick quoins. To the left is a single sash and surround corresponding to those of the polygonal bays. To the right is a single similar smaller sash, further right is a doorway with projecting C20 wood and perspex lean-to porch. Inner part glazed door with surround and spandrel as the west front doorway. On the far right is a single similar small sash. Over the porch is a gabled, ashlar coped, dormer with single decorative iron finial and single Tudor arched sash with lateral glazing bars. Over is a single fleuron decorated panel. North side single storey plus attic, 5 bays has the band of billet, plain frieze and moulded cornice continuing from the west front. Left angle with raised brick quoins. Central doorway with pointed arched panelled door and surround and spandrel as the west front doorway. Either side are 2 sashes and surrounds corresponding to those of the polygonal bays. Over the doorway is a single dormer corresponding to that on the south side. Most sashes with coloured glass in the lateral lights. Rear/east, in the main red brick with yellow brick and terracotta dressings. Single left yellow brick stack with 4 further stacks similar to those of the west front with varying number of shafts. 2 storeys plus attic, 10 bays. Large canted central bay with tall trefoil windows over doorway. Various trefoil and Tudor arched windows symmetrically placed, plus 2 ornate oriels on the first floor. First floor openings with mask keystones. The west and north fronts are set on a raised, ashlar coped, yellow brick terrace with billet and raised brick cornice. West front with central projecting Tudor arched doorway with double pointed arched panelled door. Either side are single lancets and further right and left single brick piers stepped in once, rising above the wall and coped with ashlar. Extending over the wall of the terrace and between the 2 piers is a decorative iron railing. Either side are single sloping walls, each with single recessed triangular panel and terminating in a single similar smaller pier. Surmounting the walls are similar railings and behind are single flights of stone steps with small decorative iron gates at the top. The terrace extends behind the steps on both sides with raised brick quoins at the outer angles, similar piers and railings. Each section of wall between the piers has a single Tudor arched panel containing 7 small diminishing shouldered arched openings. The north front has a flight of ashlar steps descending from the doorway with decorative small double iron gate and similar side walls and railings. The south front has a buttressed wall with central Tudor arched doorway with iron hood mould and decorative label stops. The wall continues eastwards being of red brick with ashlar coping and terminates in a single ashlar coped pier. A further single similar pier forms a gateway and the wall continues eastwards from this terminating in the coach house, listed as a separate item. The north side of the wall has several similar smaller pilasters. Interior. Richly decorated. 2 outer octagonal rooms lined from floor to ceiling with marble. Contrasting marble pilasters with ornate plaster capitals having moulded square and shaped panels to the walls in between. The wooden conical ceilings terminate in single glazed cupolas. There are 2 similar inner square rooms, however these have panelled coffered wooden ceilings, one also coved with gilded medallions. Central marble lined hall with gallery linking attic rooms having ornate cast iron balustrade and Tudor arched doorways leading off. Quatrefoil frieze, 4 of the quatrefoil panels being larger and glazed with coloured lights. Timber roof decorated at the east end with gilded stars. Most main rooms with marble fireplaces and decorative panelled doors with original fittings to doors and windows. (NCC/js)