Castlefacts³

Workington Rectory

Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

Name	Workington Rectory
Alternative Names	St Michaels Rectory; St Michael's House
Historic Country	Cumberland
Modern Authority	Cumbria
1974 Authority	Cumbria
Civil Parish	Workington

Rectory now sheltered home. Probably C15 with C19 and C20 alterations. Cement roughcast over extremely thick stone walls, under graduated greenslate roof with C19 coped gables and kneelers; original cement-roughcast chimney stacks. 2 storeys, 2 bays, with flanking gabled wings: hall with cross wings. Central recessed 2-bay section has C19 panelled and glazed door in original pointed chamfered arch with hoodmould, but heavy C20 restoration. C17-style stone-mullioned windows in hall and wings of 2, 3 and 4 lights, some with mullions removed and all with moulded sills and dripmoulds. Right wing has unusual projecting upper-floor left return wall on corbels. Both wings have large stepped external chimney stacks. Left wing return wall has C20 windows in plain reveals. Rear extensions have large C20 windows. Interior of right wing has a former external pointed-arched doorway, only recently uncovered, which is similar to the entrance doorway and this, with the consistent thickness of the walls, suggest that the hall and wings are of one build. Blocked inglenook in ground-floor room right. Rear C17-style staircase. An extremely interesting and rare survival of a hall-house more common in the south of Cumbria. Former stable to right, now warden's house, is not of interest. (Listed Building Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Perriam and Robinson record a report of attacks on the rector and his servants in 1401-3 but there is nothing to suggest this building was involved in those attacks and even less to to suggest the building was defended. It is unclear to Gatehouse why they included this building in a gazetteer of medieval fortified buildings other than its architectural interest and rarity as a surviving hall house.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number

Historic England Listed Building number(s)

1144478

Images Of England

72265

County Historic Environment Record

maps.cumbria.gov.uk/eggp/eggp.aspx?dept=Environment&scriptname=1%20Historic%20Environment

OS Map Grid Reference	NX998289
Latitude	54.6457710266113
Longitude	-3.55415010452271
Eastings	299807
Northings	528963