History

Substantial gentry farmhouse of early C17 origins extended to the N in the later C17. Originally thatched with eyebrows, slated in the C19 when the wall plate was lifted giving a uniform eaves line. Dated lime-stone sill in hall bears the inscription "Thomas Richard 1725".

Exterior

Two-storey farmhouse set behind low boundary wall. Four bays, with distinctive red colour-washed elevations. Slated roof, 3 ashlar stacks, 2 gable, 1 axial. Four 2-light sunk chamfered mullioned windows with hollow chamfered hoodmoulds to ground floor of C17 date. Original door, ashlar door surround, plain chamfer with straight-cut stops beneath hoodmould. Three 2-light mullioned windows to first floor. Rear elevation, four 2-light mullions to ground floor and single stair light set at intermediate floor level beneath central stack. First floor has three 2-light mullions and single square-headed light at far W end. Later single storey round-ended lean-to to W end with modern fenestration. Former one and a half storey kitchen (?) now linked at ground-floor level with lean-to conservatory on W elevation. Substantial gable stack at W end with small lights flanking stack. It is understood that this building may also have been used as a forge.

Interior

Two-unit, lobby entry house. Western hall has substantial rubble fire on W gable with cross cornerstone stair on N side. Fire retains original chamfered timber bressumer and early stone oven in N jamb set beneath stair. In front of this oven the jamb has been rebuilt in brick and now contains Victorian oven. Surviving C17 wrought iron chimney pot-crane and C17/C18 mechanical spit winder set above bressumer. Flag-stone floor. Four exposed beams with medium chamfers. Window sills of polished lime-stones slabs with reeding to upper face, 1 with inscription. East parlour cell has shallow fire at W end with built-in settle to N side. Distinctive dressed stone jambs with inscribed criss-cross pattern and projected knots. Cross-corner stair to S side of fire with C18 raised and fielded 2-panelled elm door. Four exposed beams with medium chamfers and ogee stops. Simple reeded border to plaster ceiling. Door between hall and parlour matches stair door. First-floor plan reflects ground floor, chamber over hall subdivided into 3 with corridor on N side. Principal chamber over parlour has open fire with corbelled bressumer at E end. Parlour staircase discharges to principal E chamber and ancillary room to W.

Surviving stone stile to W side of house which incorporates similar patterned dressed stone work to parlour fireplace.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade II* for the especially fine historic character of this gentry farmhouse with surviving C17 fenestration and good interiors.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17744251

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)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)