Alder House

Alder House was constructed in 1697 by Ralph Astley and his wife Ann, as indicated by the inscription "RAA RA 1697" on its porch. At the time of its construction, Atherton was primarily a village of nailmakers, and Ralph was an iron merchant who supplied raw materials to local craftsmen and traded finished goods, reportedly conducting significant business with Ireland. Local tradition holds that Ralph and Ann died within a day of each other in 1727, allegedly struck by lightning, and were buried at nearby Chowbent Chapel. Following their deaths, the house passed to the Mort family, prominent supporters of the dissenting congregation at Chowbent Chapel. Nathan Mort donated land for the…

Alder House is built of hammer-dressed stone with a stone-slate roof and follows a double-depth plan. It has three storeys arranged in a 3 × 3 bay configuration, with 19th-century additions to the left and rear. Three elevations include triple gables, and the central doorway has a pitched canopy with an ogee-shaped gable supported by enriched brackets. The front entrance is flanked by buttresses added in the late 19th century, bearing the date 1888 and a coat of arms. The windows are mullioned, typically with two to six lights and hood moulds, and the gables contain stepped three-light windows with arched lights in the Yorkshire tradition. A decorative lead rainwater trough with a grapevine…