Description

BROADHEMBURY LUTON
ST 00 SE

4/87 Godfreys Farmhouse

GV II

House. Probably late medieval with a C17 remodelling and extension, divided into 3
cottages at one time. Colourwashed stone and cob; slate roof, gabled at left end,
hipped at right end; end stacks, end stack to wing.
Plan: L plan: a single depth east-facing main range, 3 rooms wide, with a rear right
wing at right angles. The main range has a partial 2-storey rear outshut with a
catslide roof. The main range almost certainly originated as a 3 room and through
passage plan, lower end to the right (north), possibly with a late medieval open hall
core. Without access to the apex of the main range roof at time of survey (1988) the
open hall is unconfirmed. If it existed, the inner room was storeyed (no evidence of
smoke-blackening on the foot of the inner room truss, information from the owner).
The lower side partition of the through passage no longer exists and the hall stack
has disappeared, this was presumably a front or rear lateral stack. The rear wing
has been subdivided but was probably a large C17 kitchen wing. The present entrance
is via an internal porch directly into the middle room. A stair rises from the rear
of this room, turning behind a projection which may have been the C17 hall stack.
Evidence of 2 other former stairs, one rising from the rear of the inner room.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Approximately symmetrical 4 window front with regular
fenestration; central internal porch with an outer doorway with a segmental arch.
The position of the former through passage entrance is to the right of the present
porch, converted to a window. 2- and 3-light casements, C20 timber with glazing
bars.
Interior: Rich in C17 carpentry and joinery. The hall, in the centre, has plank and
muntin screens to both sides and moulded crossbeams with stops, one of the crossbeams
with the front end concealed by the internal porch. The inner room, to the left, has
a chamfered stopped crossbeam and a rebuilt fireplace incorporating a C17 moulded
timber lintel. The lower end (right hand) room has a boxed in beam or girder and a
small, probably C19 or C20 fireplace. This room incorporates the former through
passage which retains a fine timber doorframe on the rear wall with a Tudor arched
lintel and chamfers and stops on the rear side. The rear wing has a good set of C17
chamfered crossbeams with bar stops, interrupted by partitions which have divided the
wing into smaller rooms. The kitchen fireplace survives, with a massive timber
lintel.
On the first floor 3 ovolo-moulded stopped C17 doorframes survive, one at the top of
the existing stair, another at the top of the former inner room stair and a third,
possibly resited, in the rear wing.
Roof: Jointed cruck roof construction to the main range, the crucks side-pegged, the
ceilings just below collar level. The feet of the hall cruck are plastered over, the
feet of the inner room cruck have been exposed and stained but were not smoke-
blackened.
An evolved house, the interior rich in carpentry, possibly of late medieval open hall
origins.

Listing NGR: ST0802502694

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26390254

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6