Description

FRESSINGFIELD BACK ROAD TM 27 NE 10/15 Stable 80m north of Church - Farmhouse ( formerly listed as Church Farm 29.7.55 Stable GV I

Part of former open hall of raised-aisle construction, long abandoned for residential use and last used as a farm stable. First half of C14 with a C16 inserted floor. Timber framed and weatherboarded with a steeply-pitched pantiled roof. The upper bay and part of the lower bay of the hall survive; the remainder of the hall together with the service end-and a solar cross-wing have been lost. Housings for the rafters of the solar cross-wing are present in the tie beam at the upper end of the hall. Each wall panel has 2 sets of curved braces which are also paired in depth, on the inner and out faces of the walls. The gable end has multiple curved bracing disposed in a fan-like manner from the central post, but not paired in depth. The open truss is carried on a heavy bridging beam which has short braces to the wall posts; both bridging beam and braces have multiple mouldings. This beam carries an arcade of 3 posts, all octagonal with moulded capitals. There are arched braces from the outer posts to the arcade plates, with corresponding braces from the central post supporting additional tie beams each side of the main one. The braces to the main tie beam meet to form a pair of 2-centred arches. There are short braces from the outer posts to the principal rafters and straight side ties to the top plate. The arched bracing and the outer tie beams are all moulded. The arcade plate had an applied moulded cornice, part of which survives. The central tie beam carries an octagonal crown post with moulded base and capital, with 4-way bracing. There is a pair of straight braces to each collar. All roof components are smoke-blackened, as is part of the inserted floor. The open truss has remains of the original red ochre colouring. Evidence for original diamond-mullioned hall windows and also their hinged shutters. The top plate on the north side has been replaced and contains a crude scarf joint. Although only a part of the original house, what survives is substantially intact and an outstanding example of C14 vernacular carpentry. Hewitt, English Historic Carpentry, 1980, pp. 164-5 and p.302.

Listing NGR: TM2605777600

External Links

• Wikidata Q17526222

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Recommended Books

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)