Description

ASHWATER
SS 30 SE
1/1 Arscott Farmhouse and barns
- adjoining at west and east
II

Farmhouse and adjoining barns. Medieval farmhouse remodelled in the C17 with 1930s
rear alterations, barns adjoining at the west and east probably C18. 1 stone rubble
wall to the farmhouse, walls otherwise cob on stone rubble footings, house white-
washed and rendered to the front. Corrugated iron roof over thatch, hipped at ends
of barns. Large stone stack at right end of house heating inner room, brick axial
chimney shaft heating C17 hall. The original plan was a 5-bay medieval open hall
house. The roof is smoke-blackened from end to end and the room divisions must have
been low screens. The hall was probably ceiled over in the C17 with a hall stack
inserted backing on to a through passage and a heated inner room. The lower end was
re-roofed in the C18 and is now the barn adjoining at the east. A circa C19 roof has
been added above the medieval roof the main range. A rear wing forms a T-plan; this
wing was in use as a farmbuilding before the 1970s when it was converted as part of
the house accommodation, its original function is not clear but it does not appear
ever to have been heated. The barn adjoining at the east end has opposed doors. 2
storeys to the house, east barn with a loft, west barn single storey. 4-window
asymmetrical front with 2 probably C20 buttresses on the front, front door into
through passage at the left with a slate canopy carried on cheeks. C19 and C20
fenestration, the first floor windows high under the eaves. The rear wall of the
inner room is stone rubble and has 2 first floor 3-light mullioned windows with
timber lintels and some square and diamond-leaded panes. The right-hand (east)
window has circa C17 timber mullions and both embrasures are probably C17.
Interior 4 smoke-blackened collar rafter roof trusses complete with original
rafters, purlins and smoke-blackened thatch. The second truss from the east,
numbered II, is slightly larger than the others and has a threaded ridge and
threaded purlins. The other trusses have trenched purlins an apex notched for and a
diagonally-set ridge. The principal rafters throughout are mortised at the apex and
the collars have a curved notched joint with the principal rafters. The large hall
fireplace has stone jambs of squared masonry and a replaced lintel, the inner room
fireplace has similar jambs and a roughly-chamfered lintel damaged by fire.
Chamfered stopped C17 doorway to first floor. A circa C19 front passage runs axially
between the hall and inner room with a C19 stair leading off it. The east barn has a
steep roof with pegged trusses and straight principal rafters, some of the trusses
without collars. The west barn has pegged collar rafter roof trusses and a rear
stone archway with a keystone, the arch has been rebuilt on the outer face.

Listing NGR: SS3851700809

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26398664

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

• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)