More information : (SD 50629070) Helsington Laithes (NAT). (1)
HELSINGTON LAITHES, house, bridge and barn, The House is of two storeys with attics; the walls are of rubble and the roofs are slate-covered. The block at the W. end was built probably late in the 15th or early in the 16th century. To it was added, probably late in the 16th century, an E. wing with a cross-wing at the end of it. The staircase-wing N. of the kitchen was added probably late in the 17th century and there are 18th-century additions on both the N. and S. sides. The external features are mostly modern, but on the S. side the original block retains some original stone windows; that on the ground floor has two segmental-headed lights and a second window, with a square head, perhaps formerly a doorway; the floor above has a window of three ogee-headed lights in a square head with a moulded label. The chimney-stacks mostly have late 16th-century diagonal shafts, but the W. stack has three grouped cylindrical shafts. Inside the building, the S. room the cross-wing has a large plaster wall-panel with moulded ribs forming a geometrical design; it has floral enrichments, a cartouche with the initials I. and A.B. (for James and Agnes Bellingham?) and the date 1538; the details of the plaster work are exactly repeated at Levens Hall and it appears probable that the date should read 1583. The late 17th-century staircase has turned balusters.
The Bridge, under the roadway leading to the house, is of one span and has a round arch with long voussiors of rubble. It is probably of the 16th or 17th century.
The Barn, N.E. of the house, is probably of the 17th century and has a roof of plain timbers.
Condition - Good, much altered. (2)
Helsington Laithes, of which many original features remain among modern additions, grade 2*; the bridge and barn grade 2. (3)
Listed with plan and photograph. (4) |