Description

TL 11 SW HARPENDEN CRABTREE LANE (south side) HARPENDEN

5/41 No 28 (Topstreet Farmhouse) 9.5.78

II

Farmhouse, now house. C16 timber frame. Englarged at rear in C18 to form a double-pile house. Altered in late C19, when the elevations were stuccoed. Plain tile roofs. 2 storeys. Entrance elevation has the former cross wing on the left with exposed framing. Pargetting to panels. Central 2-storey Victorian canted bay with leaded casements, possibly a copy of the original. To either side on ground and 1st floors are small 2-light mullioned casements, those of upper floor with original oak frames. Angular jowles to the corner posts. Door on right has mid-C18 bracketed hood with heavy scroll brackets. Right of door is a 3-light segmental-headed casement, and this part was formerly the hall. To right of the cross wing is a massive ridge chimney stack; C16 below, but with C17 multiple joined shafts and narrow brick bands at the top; built up in late C19. Documentary evidence (Herts Genealogy, p 304) suggests that William Hunt was the owner in 1558. This may be when the cross wing and chimney stack were added to the apparently already existing hall range.

Listing NGR: TL1407113808

External Links

• Wikidata Q26467655

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Recommended Books

• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)