Description

SX 89 SW
3/69

TEDBURN ST MARY
Higher Brook Farmhouse

II

Farmhouse. Early C17 or earlier, extension the circa late C17/early C18, some late
C18 refurbishing. Whitewashed rendered cob; thatched roof gabled at ends; front
lateral stack with set-offs and tall shaft, rear left lateral stack, rear centre
lateral stack heating rear lean-to.
Rear courtyard plan; the main range has a rear right wing; a rear block parallel to
the main range is now in use as a store, a rear left wall completes the rear
courtyard. Complex evolution. The main range is likely to be medieval in origin but
there is no access to the roofspace which might prove this. The post-medieval
sequence of development is probably as follows: firstly, a 3-room and through passage
plan of the early C17 with the hall heated from the front lateral stack, a narrow
unheated inner room to the right and a lower end room which may have been unheated.
A winder stair to the rear of the hall gave access to first floor room right. There
is some evidence that the rear block, across the courtyard was an early/mid C17
kitchen (stack now dismantled). In the circa late C17 a second stair was inserted in
the rear of the passage and probably a little later the rear right wing was added
providing additional accommodation. In the circa late C18 the lower end room was
refurbished as a parlour heated from a rear lateral stack. A single-storey lean-to
to the rear of the main range is also probably C18.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4-window front with the thatch eaves eyebrowed over 3 first
floor gabled dormers. Front door to passage to left of centre in a chamfered
doorframe under a gabled porch carried on posts, front lateral stack to right of
front door, 2-light mullioned casement window between stack and front door. The
remaining windows are 2-, 3- and 4-light casements, 3 panes per light, the hall
window 4-light. Cob walls to the left and right of the garden in front of the house
are capped with tiles.
Interior A number of interesting features survive. The hall has a chamfered cross
beam with step ogee stops with notches, C20 grate to fireplace probably concealing
earlier features. The doorway to the rear stair is chamfered with stopped jambs and
a cranked lintel, pegged doorway in solid wall partition to inner room. The stair to
the rear of the passage has a late C17 balustrade of splat balusters. The lower end
room has a plastered cross beam and a circa late C18 moulded plaster cornice. No
access to roofspace at time of survey (1985) but a medieval roof structure may exist,
2 curved principal rafters visible in the first floor room centre are probably
jointed crucks. The rear block, formerly thatched, now has a single pitch corrugated
asbestos roof. The ground floor has a 4-light mullioned window (blocked) to the
courtyard and a chamfered timber window frame (mullions missing) to the rear. The
interior of the building is part floored; smoke staining on the right gable end wall
suggests that there was formerly a massive stack the full width of the building.
A good example of a cob and thatch house of the region, conspicuous from the road.

Listing NGR: SX8014891753

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26510452

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

• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)