Description

SS 72 SE ROSE ASH

6/108 Whippenscot Farmhouse and - outbuilding adjoining at west

II

Farmhouse. Probably late medieval origins, remodelled in the circa late C16/early C17, rebuilt at the east end, possibly in the C18, rebuilt at the west end. Colourwashed rendered cob and stone; asbestos roof (formerly thatched), gabled at ends; front lateral projecting stack, the shaft part rendered, part brick, projecting right end stack with a bread oven. Plan: A south-facing range, the present plan a 3 room and cross passage arrangement: lower end to the right, hall heated by the front lateral stack with a hall bay adjacent to the stack, unheated inner room to the left. A winder stair rises in a projection on the rear wall of the hall, a rear left outshut serves as a back kitchen and dairy. The centre of the 3 rooms is the earliest, flanked by thick crosswalls, suggesting rebuilding at both ends of the house. The roof over the centre room is of jointed cruck construction and may be late medieval but without access to the apex to see whether it is smoke-stained this remains unproven, although some loose battens in the possession of the owner do seem to be blackened. If the house is of medieval origins the open hall was probably floored in the early C17 with the front lateral stack and rear stair added: the lower end and passage appear to have been rebuilt later, possibly in the C18 as the roof structure is different and there are no exposed ceiling beams on the ground floor, the lower end room presumably functioned as the kitchen in the C18. The left hand (west) room, now the kitchen, is also very plain and has never had a stack, it may be a former outbuilding absorbed into domestic use in the C18 or C19. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3 window front, the massive front lateral stack with set-offs the right end of the house slightly set back with a C20 front door to the cross passage to right of centre. 2 circa early C19 3-light casements with small panes survive to the right of the stack, the other windows are C20 timber replacements. The outbuilding adjoining at the west is probably late C17 or C18 with a lower corrugated iron roof, hipped at the left end, 2 doorways on the front and a 2-light mullioned window on the rear wall. Interior: The centre of the house preserves pre C17 features. On the ground floor the hall has an axial beam, moulded towards the hearth but simply chamfered away from it, possibly marking a distinction in status between the different parts of the room. The fireplace has a chamfered lintel and an unusual chamfered mantel shelf which may be C17, a wooden peg projects from the wall above the lintel, presumably to hold a light. A C17 bench is fixed to the higher end and there is a small wall cupboard built into the thickness of the wall. A small closet opens off the stair, behind the cross passage with a C17 or C18 door. Roof No access to apex at time of survey (1987), but the main truss in the centre of the house is a side-pegged jointed cruck truss which is said to be complete at the apex below new timbering. A traditional house with good interior features.

Listing NGR: SS7740521057

External Links

• Wikidata Q26611061

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Recommended Books

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  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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