Description

SX 86 NW BROADHEMPSTON BROADHEMPSTON
2/70 Barters
-
GV II
House, formerly farmhouse. Probably C16 with C17 alterations, extended in C18.
Extensively modernised in late C20. Rendered rubble walls with slate roof hipped at
lower, right, end and gabled at left end. Large projecting partially rendered
lateral stack at front. 2 projecting rubble lateral stacks at rear, the left one is
rendered with an area projecting beside it.
Originally likely to have been 3 room and through-passage plan, probably with screen
passage from the lateral positions of the fireplaces at front and rear of hall and
front of lower room. Newel staircase at front of hall. The plan has subsequently
been much altered. Probably in the early C18 the house was extended by 1 room at
the higher end and either at this stage or in the C19 the house became 2 dwellings.
Reputedly during the C20 modernisations wooden screens were removed from the house;
this accords with the present lack of internal divisions between the hall and inner
room/lower room (depending on the original position of the passage, which is
unclear). One puzzling aspect of the hall is the existence in it of 2 lateral
fireplaces on opposing walls, both C17; possibly one was reserved for baking
purposes.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4 window front; first floor windows are all single light
late C20 casements, similar windows on ground except for left-hand one which is C20
bow window. The extension begins approximately 2/3 way to the left. At centre is a
shallow rectangular stair projection with gabled roof. In its right-hand wall is a
very small original single light window with round-headed wooden frame. Lateral
chimney stack projects to right of centre. 3 C20 plank doors towards left end,
immediately to left of stair projection and at right end.
Interior has been considerably altered by C20 modernisation but retains a number of
C17 features. The right-hand room has a chamfered cross beam with hollow step
stops. The fireplace has a chamfered wooden lintel with similar stops. The central
room would originally have been the hall and either inner or lower room. It has 2
opposing fireplaces towards its lower (right) end. That on the front wall has a
high wooden lintel, chamfered with mason's mitres at either end. The fireplace
directly opposite has a chamfered wooden lintel with hollow step stops. Almost
central in the room is a heavy cross beam, chamfered with jewel and hollow step
stop. At the front of the hall the newel staircase survives. Roof space not
inspected but evidence on first floor suggests insubstantial straight principals,
likely to have replaced earlier trusses when the thatch was removed from the house
in the early-mid C20.
This house is likely to have been one of the more important farmhouses in the
village in the C17 and despite extensive C20 modernisation it still retains a number
of interesting features of C17.

Listing NGR: SX8064566276

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26603974

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

• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)