39 HINCASTER (D.g.)

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)XLII, N.E., ^(b)XLII, S.E.)

Hincaster is a township of Heversham, 5 m. S. of Kendal. Hincaster Hall is the principal monument.

Secular

^b(1). Hincaster Hall (Plate 115), on the W. side of the parish, is of two storeys; the walls are of rubble and the roofs are slate-covered. It was built on a T-shaped plan, probably late in the 16th century and there is an 18th-century extension on the E. The S. front retains its original stone-mullioned windows with moulded labels and there are similar windows at the back and W. end. The front doorway has an oak frame and a door of nail-studded battens with strap-hinges. The chimneystacks have cylindrical shafts. Inside the building are some exposed ceiling-beams and original fireplaces; one on the ground floor has a three-centred arch of stone and a second has a flat lintel with a segmental arch cut on the face; a fireplace on the first floor also has a flat lintel with two round arches cut on the face and having three leaves as a stop in the middle; a second fireplace on the same floor has two square-headed recesses cut on the face of the lintel. The partition on the ground floor is of 17th-century panelling, with a carved frieze-panel bearing the initials and date A.M. 1660. There are also some 17th-century panelled doors.

Condition—Good.

Monuments (2–5)

The following monuments, unless otherwise described, are of the 17th century and of two storeys; the walls are of rubble and the roofs are slate-covered. Some of the buildings have exposed ceiling-beams.

Condition—Good or fairly good.

^b(2). High Barns, house, 450 yards W.N.W. of (1), is of three storeys. The chimney-stacks have cylindrical shafts.

^b(3). Cottage, on the E. side of the road, 330 yards E.S.E. of (1), contains an original partition of the local muntin and plank type.

^a(4). Well Heads, house, on the N. edge of the parish, 1,600 yards N.E. of (1), was built late in the 17th or early in the 18th century.

^b(5). Greenhead, house, 1,600 yards S.E. of (1), has 18th-century extensions at both ends. The front doorway has an original door of nail-studded battens with ornamental strap-hinges. Inside the building are remains of a partition of the local type and there are two original panelled doors.