Building record MDR16056 - Crossroads Farmhouse, Crossroads Farm, Ashbourne Road (A517), Belper

A Grade II* listed, very large farmhouse, early 19th century, said to have been formerly a posting house called "The Owl" standing where the turnpike to Matlock crossed that to Ashbourne. The unusual architecture and constructional methods indicate that it was built by Strutts. Built of ashlar with a slate roof, eaves cornice and large stone chimney-stacks, the house has three storeys and four bays, with band-courses between storeys. Two-light stone mullioned window spaces with cast iron casement windows and glazing bars alternate with blank window spaces except on the ground floor. There is an off-centre door with a heavy stone hood on large brackets, originally supporting a statuette of an owl (now in the garden), a good glazed lantern and a six-panelled door (the top 2 panels now glazed). The lower two-storey wing to the east has four casement windows of two lights each. The red brick eastern end of this (in the farmyard) has a stone framed dog kennel in its base. To the east and west of the main house and advanced from it are single storey wings, each with two large panels in front and with cornices and a blocking course. To the east of the eastern wing is a single storey six-bay section. The interior has a certain amount of ironwork used in its construction, the kitchen ceiling in particular is interesting because it is formed of stone slabs fitted into iron girders. There is also a very large stone, iron-bound, water tank in the house. (1)