Strafford House, Round Green Lane, Stainborough, Barnsley, S75

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Building

Age

Early 18th century

Rarity

Pre-1850 building built of original high quality design and excellent survival.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

The farmhouse is a of a high quality design reflective of the response within vernacular architecture of the yeoman farmers during the late 17th and early 19th century to the tripartite design of high status architecture of the early 17th century. The building is of single fronted, double pile, design with three gabled south facing elevation of symmetrical design with coped ridges, plain kneelers, and hooded windows with continuous ashlar surrounds. The windows now have casements divided by timber mullions, and likely reflect the position of earlier stone mullions. The former agricultural buildings to the rear are of plainer design, although faced with squared sandstone similar to the house and with the eastern barn also possessing coped gables. Whilst converted, the buildings preserve aspects of their agricultural character.

Group Value

The farm lies in proximity to Wentworth Castle and is contemporary with the development of Stainsborough Park during the 18th century. The building was originally situated at a prominent corner on the road around the eastern boundary of the park, and may once have formed a feature of views north from Queen Anne's Obelisk along the edge of Ivas Wood. The possibility of the building's integration into a wider designed aspect of the estate landscape around the bounds of the park is potentially suggested by the above usual quality of its architectural design.

Historic Interest

The farm is shown on a birds-eye perspective of Stainborough Park and Wentworth Castle from c.1732 (https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/a-prospect-of-stainborough-and-wentworth-castle-i-e-stainborough-hall-yorks) and on a map of the Stainborough Estate c.1734 (Sheffield Archives VWM/Maps/63R) where it forms a courtyard plan with two parallel range, the west one of which is fronted with the gabled farmhouse facing south onto a road junction. Round Green Lane at this time followed a different path, passing roughly east to west in front of the farm and curving through what is now Stainborough Park, towards Menagerie House. The road was diverted to its existing line by 1767. Historic Ordnance Survey maps show the farm ranges were extended to the north in the late 19th century, but otherwise their planform remained largely unchanged. Formerly known as 'Round Green Farm', the complex acquired the name 'Strafford's House' in the later 20th century. Historic census data does not differentiate between properties in Round Green, and thus it is difficult to determine the succession of ownership, although it is note that the majority of professions listed in Round Green are farmers or agricultural labourers. The presence of Walker's Pond to the west of the farm could of significance in this respect, with a William Walker listed as a farmer and seedsman (dealer in seeds) at Rounds Green between 1861 and 1881. The property was divided into several separate properties, and the former agricultural buildings converted, in the 1990s.

Archaeological Interest

The buildings preserve evidence within their fabric for not only the development of the buildings and their original function , but the lives of the people who occupied them.

Landmark Status

The farmhouse, now known as Strafford House, is prominent from Rockley Road and Round Green Lane, its high quality historic façade reflecting the history and importance of the surrounding landscape.

02 May 2023

05 Sep 2022

Find out more about this Asset in South Yorkshire Local Heritage List:
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/south-yorkshire/asset/8747