Details
SJ 4013-4113 FORD C.P. FORD
13/59 Ford House
29.1.52
GV II*
House. Circa 1730. Finely-jointed red brick with grey sandstone dressings;
2-span slate roof. Double-depth plan. 2 storeys and attic over basement.
Painted moulded stone plinth, painted chamfered quoins, painted wooden
modillion eaves cornice, and parapeted gable ends with chamfered stone
coping, straight across valley. 3 dormers with 2-light horizontal-sliding
sashes and triangular-pedimented gables; pairs of external brick end stacks
with moulded stone offsets and dentil brick caps. 5 bays; glazing bar
sashes with exposed boxes, moulded stone cills, and gauged brick heads
with projecting triple keystones; central pair of half-glazed doors
(raised and fielded bottom panels and margin lights above) with panelled
reveals and soffit, moulded architrave, and porch with Tuscan columns
and half-columns, entablature with moulded cornice, and lead-covered top.
Rear (garden front): plinth, quoins, cornice, parapeted gable ends with
urns at feet, 3 pedimented dormers; 5 bays; basement windows with chamfered
reveals; ground-floor sashes cut down,probably in late C18; central pair
of half-glazed doors (raised and fielded lower panels and margin lights),
stone doorcase consisting of architrave with chamfered rustication and
dropped keystone, and Tuscan pilasters supporting entablature with segmental
pediment; 5 red sandstone steps with sides curving out to curtails;
3-bay gable end to south-west; tall stepped plinth. One-storey early C19
former kitchen block adjoining to north-east; hipped roof; L-plan; tall
plinth to rear-and dentil brick eaves cornice; 3-light segmental-headed
wooden casement to front with segmental-headed 2-panelled door to right;
left-hand return front has 2-light segmental-headed wooden casement with
dated stone shield above:"RLB / 1839"; short link to house has door
with 6 flush panels. Interior: fairly complete early C18 fittings; ground
floor has C18 doors with 6 raised and fielded panels, lugged architraves,
and panelled reveals; staircase hall on east side of house: moulded
cornice and fluted ceiling beams; archway to western part of house has
doorcase with fluted pilasters, radial fanlight, and round arch with moulded
architrave and keystone; 2-flight dog-leg staircase with half-landing,
open string with cut brackets, 3 balusters per tread (one twisted,
one turned and one fluted), turned and fluted newel posts, and moulded
ramped handrail, wreathed to columnar newel post at foot; landing balustrade
on 2 sides; ground-floor south-east room: early C19 remodelling with dado
rail, plaster cornice and soffit; ground-floor north-east room has tall
C18 raised and fielded panelling with dado rail, and moulded dentil
cornice; plain architraves; C19 fireplace; first-floor archway has doorcase
with fluted piers and moulded round arch with keystone; bedrooms: one with
raised and fielded panelling, dado rail and moulded cornice; fireplace with
lugged architrave, frieze with keystone and cornice; one with C17 and C19
panelling, 2 doors with 3 raised and fielded panels and L-hinges, lugged
architraves with pulvinated frieze and moulded cornice. Ford House was the
home of the Ambler family until 1793. Ford House is a well-preserved example
of a small early C18 house and is the centre of a group including a terrace(qv)
to the east and stables (qv) and barn (qv) to the north. V.C.H., Vol. VIII,
pp.225-6; B.O.E., p.131; H. E. Forrest, FLS, Some old Shropshire Muses and
their owners(1924), pp.54-8.
Listing NGR: SJ4127213886