Description

TM 04 NE
6/159

SOMERSHAM
MAIN ROAD
King's Cottage, Street Farm and Lower Somersham Post Office

II

3 houses, one of which includes the Post Office. Formerly (until early C20)
The King's Head Inn, but probably built as a 3-cell farmhouse in C15 or early
C16. A complex building of 4 main units, all built by mid C17.

Phase 1:-
The central range of early C16 or earlier, with mid C19 alterations (the major
portion of Street Farmhouse). A hall with service cell. 2 storeys, 4
windows. Timber-framed, encased at front in C19 painted red brick.
Plaintiled roof with axial C17 chimney of red brick. C19 casements with
segmental heads, some having small panes. C19 4-panelled entrance door with
lean-to canopy on brackets. In the hall are heavy exposed 1st floor joists
and a cross-passage. The bar seating, corner cupboard and other early C19
features are retained internally. The front wall was raised, and the roof
partly rebuilt in C19.
Phase 2:-
A dairy/bakehouse range, originally detached, projecting forward to right (now
the Post Office). C16, 2 storeys, 3 cells. Timber-framed ana roughcast.
Plaintiled roof (one slope concrete tiled) with axial C17 chimney of red
brick. Various C19 casements and sashes. Good unmoulded framing exposed
internally. A small C17/C18 2-storeyea wing added to rear right. Single-
storey extensions to right, of red brick, C19 and late C20.
Phase 3:-
A short set-forward cross-wing added to left-hand end in mid C16 (now part of
King's Cottage). 2 storeys. Timber-framed and roughcast; the gable is
jettied at 1st floor and again ac the gable foot, with moulded fascia-
bressumers at each level; at 1st floor are 2 knees, one rising from a carved
shaft. The rear gable and chimney of red brick are a C17 or early C18
alteration. A 2-storey lace C20 extension at left is not of special
interest.
Phase 4:- .
A gabled cross-wing (now part of Street Farmhouse) probably of service
function, was inserted in C17 between Phases 1 and 2. 2 storeys. Timber-
framed and plastered. Plaintiled roof with axial C17 chimney of red brick.

Listing NGR: TM0858048656

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26543668

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

• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)