Description

TWITCHEN
SS 72 NE
14/205 Burch Farmhouse and adjoining
- outbuildings
GV II
Farmhouse, now divided. Late C17 or early C18, possibly an addition to or a partial
rebuilding of an earlier house. Probable late C18 or early C19 remodelling. Mid-to
late C19 alterations and additions, including some internal alterations. Minor mid-
to late C20 alterations. Cob and stone rubble to late C17 range and uncoursed
sandstone rubble to left-hand range and additions, all rendered to front. Thatched
roof, hipped over rear staircase wing, and gable-ended scantle-slate roofs to left-
hand and rear range, with C20 bitumen covering to rear. C20 asbestos slates to left-
hand range of outbuildings to front. Sandstone and red-brick stacks.
Plan and development: C17 two-room central entrance plan, facing south (site falls
to left). Integral brick end stacks. Central 2-storey gabled porch, and central
staircase in square projection at rear. Staircase projection at rear is probably a
later (perhaps late C18 or early C19) addition (see rafters and thatch of former rear
roof-line in attic). C17 one-room plan service end (present kitchen) to left with
external lateral stack to rear, probably C18 staircase to left, and front entrance to
right. Mid-to late C19 parallel range added to rear, between staircase projection
and kitchen stack, incorporating dairy in ground floor. Further C19 additions
include one-roomed addition (altered in late C20) adjoining at right-hand end and
one-storey wings projecting at right angles to front, flanking the C17 two-room
range. C18 or C19 shippon added to left-hand (service) end. It is possible that
this was formerly a 3-room and cross-passage plan house, the former hall and inner
room end of which was remodelled or rebuilt in the late C17 or early C18. Former
shippon to left converted to create further domestic accommodation and garaging in
the late C20. Two storeys with former shippon of one-storey and loft and one-
storey outbuildings.
Exterior: Right-hand part has symmetrical 3-bay front with C19 three-light wooden
casements in outer bays. C19 flat-roofed square bay inserted in ground floor to
right, with pair of half-glazed French casements and side lights. Central full-
height slate-roofed gabled porch has first-floor late C18 or early C19 two-light
Gothick window with curved Y-tracery and transom (present window probably a C20
restoration). Central recessed early C19 four-panelled door (lower panels beaded
flush and upper panels raised and fielded) with side lights (beaded flush panels
below) and panelled reveals and soffit matching door. Probably early to mid-C19
flat-roofed wooden porch. Probably C18 brick end stacks with stepped weatherings.
Lower service range to left with 3 windows to each floor. C19 two-light wooden
casements, those on ground floor with segmental heads. Old (C18 or C19) boarded door
to right with wrought-iron strap hinges and chamfered wooden frame. Former shippon
adjoining to left with late C20 fenestration including garage door and conservatory.
Boarded loft door in left-hand gable end. Projecting one-storey ranges of
outbuildings to front with C20 fenestration and doors. Stair wing to rear with
slightly-projecting first floor and first-floor C19 window. Large C17 external
square stack to at rear of kitchen with chamfered offsets, weatherings, lean-to bread
oven to front and small window to right. C19 parallel range at rear with 2 first-
floor C19 two-light small-paned wooden casements and 3 ground-floor C20 two-light
wooden casements, all with stone flat-arched heads. External stack to rear of
converted shippon too.
Interior: Left-hand ground-floor room of late C17 range with cased chamfered cross
beam. C18 cupboard in wall to rear with 2 pairs of doors, upper doors with 2 raised
and fielded panels, and frieze and dentil cornice; V-shaped interior with 3 shaped
shelves. C18 cupboard in front wall, upper door with 2 raised and fielded-panels and
lower door with one raised and fielded panel, with H-hinges and 3 shaped shelves in
top cupboard. Right-hand ground-floor has C19 marble fireplace with bracketed
mantelshelf. Mid-to late C19 matchboarding to entrance hall. Late C18 or early C19
staircase with open string, stick balusters (2 per tread). some cast iron, and ramped
handrail, wreathed to columnlar foot newel. Balustade curved at head of stairs, to
return to landing. Mid-to late C19 four-panelled doors throughout. Ground-floor
room (former kitchen) in left-hand range has C17 open stone fireplace to rear with
deep-chamfered wooden lintel, bread oven to rear with segmental brick arch, and small
window in left-hand side. Blocked doorway to right, cupboard above with two 2-
panelled doors and open below. Some introduced C17 dado panelling. C18 door at rear
leading to dairy, with 4 moulded panels (raised and fielded to rear) and C18 thumb-
latch with shaped ends. C19 dairy with low slate shelves on brick piers and drain in
stone floor. Slatted wooden screen to pantry with probably reused old boarded door.
Probably late C17 three-bay roof over late C17 range with trusses consisting of
principal rafters crossing at apex, pegged collars, diagonally-set ridge-piece and
pole rafters. Part of rear roof (including rafters and some thatch) still survives
in front of later roof over rear staircase projection.

Listing NGR: SS7709429460

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26510256

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

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)