History
The farmhouse dates from around 1700 and originally served as a single dwelling before later being divided into multiple residences. It formed part of a working farmstead that remained active until the early 21st century. Historically, Lea Gate was one of ten farms in the Harwood and Bradshaw area, reflecting the region's agricultural heritage, and stood within its own grazing land. [1]
During the 1960s, much of the surrounding farmland was sold for residential development, but the farm buildings at Lea Gate were retained, and farming continued on the site until 2005. [1]
On 27 January 1967, Lea Gate Farmhouse was designated a Grade II* listed building. [2] A nearby barn, dated to 1729 and later extended, associated with the farmstead, is separately listed at Grade II. [3]
Today, the property comprises two dwellings along with the former dairy. [1]
Architecture
Lea Gate Farmhouse is constructed from dressed stone with prominent quoins and is roofed in stone slates. The structure has two storeys and is arranged in five bays, with the third and fourth bays projecting beneath gables. [4] A continuous drip mould runs across the ground floor and along the upper bays from the third to the fifth. The gables are coped and finished with kneelers. [2]
The ground floor features double-chamfered mullioned windows in a varied arrangement, with lights grouped in pairs and threes, interspersed with single openings, and a round-headed light positioned to the right of the fourth bay. The first floor has similar mullioned windows, including one with an ogee head in the fourth bay. The entrance is set within a recessed porch in the fourth bay, which includes a decorated lintel and a circular opening on the return. The roofline is marked by a cross-axial chimney stack and a gable-end stack. At the rear, later extensions are present along with some surviving mullioned windows. [4]
Interior
Internally, the farmhouse retains several original features that reflect its early 18th-century character. These include chamfered ceiling beams and a cambered bressummer above the fireplace, both indicative of traditional craftsmanship. A notable feature is the dog-leg staircase, which incorporates turned balusters and square newels, providing a distinctive example of period joinery. [2]
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