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

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17526222

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

• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)