Carr Grange

Off White Rose Way DN4 5HY

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Building. Detached former farmhouse now at the entrance to an industrial estate. Believed to be late 18th century

Age

It is believed to date from the 1770s. There is a suggestion that it was built in 1813 but see under history where there is doubt about the latter date.

Rarity

A rare example of a former Georgian farmhouse surviving very close to the town.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Detached 2-storey house c.1770 in plain sand/cement render, lined. Roof of interlocking double Roman concrete tile roof with matching ridge tiles. Gables have parapets, kneelers and copings. Front: 2 square timber sash windows, each 2 over 2, to each floor, with stone sills. First floor has unusual central circular window. Ground floor has large central porch in matching render, gabled with painted timber barge boards, 6-panel door below fanlight and decorative painted timber surround. The building’s probable brick structure is evidenced by brick revealed below DPC and by brick stacks at ends and centre of roof ridge. Cast iron down pipes and decorative wrought (or cast?) iron garden gate. Open porch added c 1980s but details of gate and fanlight are not evident from the photos as they were taken from the main road .

Group Value

Not applicable.

Historic Interest

Believed to be after 1772 but possibly 1779. 1772 is the date of an indenture for the land. Simple Georgian building originally a farmhouse. Surviving hidden away on a small industrial estate. It was believed to have been built and owned by the noted musician and historian Dr Edward Miller in the 18th century. He obtained land on the carrlands for farming and probably built this for his overseer as he was living at Church Hill in the town centre. He describes his farming efforts in ‘History of Doncaster’ written in 1804. The building appears in a book on Miller written by Frederick Fowler, Leslie Smith and J.Edward Day in 1976. The authors were all well respected historians. They attribute the construction of this building to Miller. This is also mentioned in a Victorian book, by C.W.Hatfield. However it must be mentioned that in a newspaper advert of 1813 it was described as recently built. This advert might not be reliable. It was common in the Georgian era to describe buildings as recently built when they were in fact older. There is further evidence for this as the advert mentions the previous occupant. Also Carr Grange had been advertised for sale in 1810 with no mention of it being new.

Archaeological Interest

None known

Landmark Status

It is hidden away behind trees just off White Rose Way at the entrance to an industrial estate. However it can be quickly glimpsed from the main road. The nearby Carr Grange Villas probably from the late 19th century were demolished when the road was constructed.

14 Aug 2023

14 Aug 2023