Owned by English Heritage, it has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument[1] and Grade I listed building.

[2] The rectory is believed to have been built in the early 14th century as the residence of the rector of the parish of St Oswald's, Warton, probably by two younger sons of Marmaduke, Lord Thweng.

[3] The walls are of limestone rubble with sandstone dressings, and a cross passage originally separated the full-height great hall on the southern side from service rooms and a first floor chamber at the other end of the house.

The doorway at the eastern end of the cross passage is interpreted as the main entrance, while the western one led into a garden, and both originally had a porch.

In the south-west corner of the great hall is a doorway that led to another building which survives as part of the modern vicarage.