Westholme House

Prior to the enclosure of Sleaford in 1794, the lands that later became the Westholme estate were mostly open fields. The largest was Puddingpan Race behind the houses on Westgate, thought to be named for the muddy puddles that formed there. That field was bounded to the north by Drove Lane, a track running to South Rauceby, and parts of the future estate also included "Millgatemere Furlong" to the north west and claypits to the north east. Following the enclosure, Drove Lane was straightened and moved northwards by a third of a mile; the old open fields were reorganised within this new space, producing straight, geometric boundary lines. The future Westholme grounds were divided up between…

Charles Kirk and Thomas Parry were builders and architects in Sleaford; their company prospered in the mid-19th century and was responsible for a number of civic, religious and corporate buildings in the town, including the gas works, Carre's Grammar School and Carre's Hospital. Westholme has been called their "most cheerfully inventive" building; The two-storey house is built in coursed stone with steep, Welsh slate roofing. The rear is more simple; the windows are mullioned and most are square, except for three bay windows. It has two wings laid out like half an "H", which each have a gable and embattled parapets. The site also houses a Gothic stable-block, which Sir Nikolaus Pevsner…