Gosforth is a civil parish in the Borough of Copeland, Cumbria, England. It contains 18 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, three are at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The parish contains the village of Gosforth and the surrounding countryside. The listed buildings include houses and associated structures, farmhouses, farm buildings, a church and structures in the churchyard, a boundary stone, and a milestone.
The earliest surviving parts of the church are Norman, including a doorway and the north arcade. Some reconstruction took place in 1789, but most of the present church is the result of significant rebuilding in Decorated style in 1896–99 by C. J. Ferguson. Also incorporated into the fabric of the church are medieval fragments including cross-heads and tomb slabs, and in a niche are two carved Viking hogback stones. The church is built in stone with slate roofs and stone ridges. It consists of a nave, a north aisle, a south porch, a chancel and north vestries. At the west end is a corbelled-out bellcote.[2][3]
Originally a house, later used as a library and as part of the village hall. The building is stuccoed with quoins and a slate roof. It has two storeys, with a main block of three bays, a lower single-bay wing to the right, and a rear wing of three bays. On the front of the main block are two plank doors, casement windows, one with a mullion, and continuous hood moulds. The bay to the right has a casement window and a small fire window. The rear wing is symmetrical with a central door, windows in chamfered surrounds, and hood moulds.[4][5]
Originally a country house, it was extended in 1679. There have been later alterations, including the demolition of a wing, and the subsequent conversion into a hotel. The house is in stone and has slate roofs with copings, ball finials, and stone ridges. It has an L-shaped plan, two storeys with attics, and an east front of three bays. In the centre is a gabled porch and a chamfered doorway. The windows were originally mullioned and transomed, some are now blocked, and others contain sashes. In the roof are six upper-cruck trusses.[6][7]
The barn and attached stables are in stone with slate roofs. The barn has two storeys with mouldedcopings, and ball finials on the roof. On the south face are four plank doors and three windows in the ground floor, and a winnowing door and ventilation slits above, and at the rear is a wagon entrance. The stable has one storey, planks doors, and blocked openings.[8]
The tombstone is in the churchyard of St Mary's Church. It consists of a slab with chamfered edges and a shaped top, measuring 2 feet (0.61 m) wide by 2.5 feet (0.76 m) high, and carries an inscription.[11]
The tombstone consists of a slab with an integral mouldedplinth, 2.25 feet (0.69 m) wide by 3.75 feet (1.14 m) high. It contains an inscription between flutedpilasters, and has a segmental pediment including a winged head.[12]
The tombstone is in the churchyard of St Mary's Church. It consists of a slab with an ornately shaped head. The slab is 2 feet (0.61 m) wide and 2.5 feet (0.76 m) high, and it carries an inscription.[13]
The farmhouse and adjoining farm buildings are in stone with slate roofs. The house has two storeys and three bays, and a lower recessed single-bay extension to the north with a lean-to porch. The doorway and sash windows have stone surrounds. To the south is the four-bay barn and stable, which have a wagon entrance, plank doors, a winnowing door, ventilation slits, and external steps. An arch links it to a dovecote that has plank doors and dove openings.[14]
The farm buildings are in stone and have a slate roof with coping to the south. They have an L-shaped plan, two storeys, two bays adjoining the house and a projecting bay. There is an elliptical-headed carriage arch, a plank door, steps leading up to a loft door, and another plank door in the projecting bay, this door having an inscribed and dated lintel.[15]
A stuccoed house on a plinth, with stone dressings, corner pilasters, a plain frieze, and a slate roof with copedgables. It has a double-depth plan, two storeys with an attic, three bays, and a rear wing. Two steps lead up to a central doorway with an open porch, and on the left side is a conservatory. The windows are sashes, and in the attic are round-headed windows. At the rear is a tall round-headed stair window with a keystone.[17]
The milestone consists of a sandstone block placed on the top of a wall. It has a trapezoid plan, and measures about 3 feet (0.91 m) long and 1 foot 3 inches (0.38 m) high. It inscribed with pointed hands, the names of destinations, and the distances in miles to Egremont, Kendal, Ravenglass, and to Ulverston.[18]
The boundary stone consists of a monolithic block of sandstone about 2 feet (0.61 m) high with a semicircular head. It is inscribed with "GOSFORTH" on one face and "NETHER WASDALE" on the other.[22]
The toolshed is in the corner of the churchyard of St Mary's Church. It is in stone, and incorporates medieval material, including three intact carved tomb slabs.[23]
