Description

ILSINGTON
SX 77 SE
7/92 West Horridge Farmhouse
-

- II

Farmhouse. Late C16 or early C17; rear wings possibly C18 or early C19 additions.
Granite rubble, now painted at the front. Main body of house, including rear wing,
has local wheatreed thatched roofs with hip at left-hand end of front range; left
hand section, which has been reduced in height, has low-pitched slated roof with
clay ridge tiles. The thatched section has slated valleys, now concealed by later
thatch. The thatched range has 2 late C17 or C18 granite chimneystacks with caps
formed by projecting slate courses; one is in right-hand gable, the other on ridge,
close to left-hand end. Slated section has a tall, late C19 red brick stack with
bands of yellow brick on centre of ridge. 3-room and through-passage plan,
basically. The lower room, which is heated, has a former stable or outhouse beyond
it, and may originally have been part of a long shippon, sub-divided later to form a
kitchen. Rear wing at right-hand end is partly ruined and roof-less; it has no
chimneys and part of it was used latterly as a dairy. Behind left hand end is a
smaller wing, probably a storeroom. 2 storeys, apart from the single-storey left-
hand end and the rear section of the wing. 5-window front, including the 2 ground
storey windows of the single storey section; the walling is of one build, front and
back. Windows are all C18 or early C19 wood casements under plain wood lintels. In
the thatched section of front range, all have slender moulded mullions with
horizontal iron tie-bars for glazing, except the middle ground storey window which
has wooden glazing bars and 8 panes per light. Doorway in left hand bay has old
plank door with small window cut into it. Lower left hand section has 3-light wood
casement window to right, this having 8 panes per light. Immediately below it is a
blocked doorway which is matched by a similar blocked doorway in the rear wall. To
left is a single light wood casement without glazing bars. The front and back walls
of the thatched section project slightly at the gable end, showing clearly that the
whole building was formerly 2-storied. In left hand gable are 3 slit windows.
Interior retains much of its C18 and early C19 character, with irregular plaster
surfaces to walls and ceilings. Front door opens into through-passage, this having
been enlarged to insert a C18 or C19 plain staircase. Stone rubble chimney of hall
back on to it to right. Hall has ovolo moulded upper floor beam with raised run out
stops; similar half beam against the chimney, cut off at rear end. Partition at
upper end, next to the former parlour (now the kitchen), is a stud-and-panel screen
which appears to have formed the base of a close studded timber framed wall rising
the full height of the house to the roof ridge. Towards the hall the studs are
chamfered, without stops, and the head beam is lightly moulded; studs are plain on
parlour side. Former parlour is large for a farmhouse of this period with fireplace
in gable wall; rough, longitudinal upper floor beam. Roof of front range appears to
have been rebuilt at left-hand end in C18 or C19, but at right hand end an original
truss survives; this has plain feet, cambered collar, 2 tiers of threaded purlins
and a threaded ridge; principal rafters notched at apex. The top of partition
between hall and parlour survives in roof space; this has close studding above a
straight collar; studs are grooved on sides for laths. On underside of collar and
principals are mortices for former studs running down to second storey. There is no
trace of smoke-blackening. Right hand rear wing has C18 or early C19 trusses with
collars pegged to the faces of the principal rafters. C18 or early C19 plank doors
in both storeys, one in second storey with wooden latch.
This has been a house of high quality and is likely to have other features of
interest concealed under plaster, particularly fireplaces and floor joists.

Listing NGR: SX7604874148

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26551882

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

• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)