"The Croft," Stratford Road, Ranmoor, Sheffield

HOUSE AT SHEFFIELD - The house has been erected for Mr. James Neill, of Sheffield, on a very commanding site in the Fulwood district of Sheffield, the ground having a slope to the south-east. The sitting-rooms face towards the southeast and south-west and obtain good views of the surrounding country. Up to the first-floor level the building is faced with local stone from the Bell Hag Quarry. Above that height, cream coloured cement roughcast has been used. The situation being much exposed, the walls have been built with a cavity. The roof is covered with stone slates from Brighouse, matching very closely the colour of the stone walls. In laying out the garden great care has been taken to make it harmonise with the house and form a part of the general composition. Two long terraces run across the south-east front of the house, and are connected by means of steps, which in turn form an approach to a central path, with an old oak tree forming a termination. The terrace walls are of rough local stones, into the joints of which rock plants have been planted. 

Both gardens and house were designed and carried out under the superintendence of Messrs. Briggs, Wolstenholme, and Thornely, F/F.R.I.B.A., of Liverpool. Messrs. Backhouse and Sons, of York, carried out the garden work, and Messrs. Loneden and Sons, of Sheffield, were the contractors for the house. [Architects and Builders Journal 27 November 1912 page 584]

 Built for James Neill, a tool manufacturer of Sheffield, the house was built end-on to the road allowing principal rooms to face south-east. Of two storeys and attic floor; unusually the billiard room was placed at first floor level.