Description

CHAWLEIGH
SS 71 SW
2/36 West Hill Farmhouse
-
GV II
Farmhouse. C17, possibly earlier core, with late C17 improvements, C19 and early
C20 modernisations. Plastered cob on rubble footings; stone rubble or cob stacks
topped with C20 brick; thatch roof.
House facing south-east has basic 3-room-and-through-passage-plan layout with
former inner room at right (north-east) end. Larger former service end room has
probably been extended. Both former service and inner rooms have projecting end
stacks, the latter disused. Hall has projecting rear lateral stack with probably
secondary oven projection. Rear of passage now blocked by late C17 stair. 2
storeys.
Irregular 6-window front of late C19 and C20 casements with glazing bars, and, over
passage door a late C18 - early C19 3-light casement which includes rectangular
panes of leaded glass. Door below is C20 and secondary door to inner room towards
right end is behind C20 flat-roofed and glass-sided porch. Roof is gable-ended to
left and half-hipped to right.
Interior shows mostly result of C19 and early C20 modernisations but layout
suggests that original features probably survive behind later plasterwork. For
instance all fireplaces are blocked by C20 chimney-pieces. Former hall however has
exposed early or mid C17 crossbeams with richly-moulded soffits and unusual fin-
shaped stops. The upper end crossbeam is positioned well in from the crosswall
which suggests that the chamber over the inner room jettied into a once open hall.
Rear of former passage is now blocked by a stair, straight flight to half-landing
then turning both ways along rear wall. It still has a very fine late C17 dog gate
containing 2 tiers of turned balusters. Roof was inaccessible at time of survey
but the farmer claims it to be made up of A-frame trusses pegged lap-jointed collars
throughout and part of wall plate is exposed externally under eaves towards right
end. It is probably late C17.

Listing NGR: SS7005911041

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26456492

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)