Description

BERE FERRERS BERE FERRERS
SX 46 SE
7/20 Bere Barton
21.3.67

GV II*

Large farmhouse. Originally the manor house of the Ferrers family. The oldest rear
portion quite possibly dates back to the C14: a licence was granted in 1337 to Sir
William de Ferrers to castellate the manor house. The house was added to probably in
the C16 with the main front portion dating from the early to mid C18 and some C19
additions.
Limestone, granite and slate rubble walls incorporating some pieces of dressed
stone. Hipped slate roof. 2 brick lateral stacks at side of each front wing; 3
brick axial stacks between front and rear blocks.
Complex development of plan. Oldest part is at rear of left-hand side consisting at
present of one large room; visible on the first floor of this part, in front left-
hand corner, are the remains of a stone newel stair with a garderobe adjoining under
which is a shute and underground waste channel. Built onto one side of this room is
a probably C16 block heated by an axial fireplace, this may originally have been a
kitchen. In the early to mid C18 a new block was built on the front, probably
replacing an earlier structure. The new block consists of a large central entrance
and stairhall with a principal heated room to either side and a further small room
projecting fromthe front of each at either end. In the C19 a large dairy wing was
added set back at the right-hand end of the house. In the late C20 the partition
between the 2 right-hand rooms in the C18 block was removed.
2 storeys. Symmetrical 1:3:1 bay front; the outer bays project each with late C20
12-pane sash on ground and first floor. Similar windows on inner face of each wing.
The central bays with 3 windows on the first floor, 4 on the ground floor. The
outer windows on ground and first floor are C20 12 pane sashes, the inner 2 on the
ground floor are contemporary narrow 8 pane sashes. The central first floor window
is the only surviving complete C18 hornless sash with 24 panes and thick glazing
bars. All the windows are almost flush with the outside wall and in the original
openings. Central doorway with rectangular fanlight and late C20 6-fielded panel
door. The front of the house has a plinth of re-used chamfered stones. At right-
hand end set back from the front is circa early C19 dairy extension with one 3 -
light late C20 casement. Adjoining left-hand end at front is tall rubble garden
wall.
At the left-hand gable end of the house the complex sequence of development is
apparent in the clearly marked joints between the various sections. The C18 block
is to the right. The original section is set back to the left and in front of it is
a 2 storey lean-to with single light chamfered round-headed stone window on the
ground floor; it is not clear whether this is re-used or in situ. Where the lean-to
joins the original block is a section of slanting wall which marks the stair turret.
To its left is a C16 single-light square-headed window with double chamfered stone
frame. There is what appears to be a relieving arch above which is cut off by the
roof. Below and to the left is a similar more simply moulded stone window frame.
There is a diagonal buttress at the left hand corner. Irregular rear facade to
original block to the right distinguishable with diagonal buttress at each corner
and wide roughly central doorway with C19 stable type door. To its left is recessed
section with 6 light C19 casement on ground floor with wooden lintel. Above to the
right is C16 blocked single arched light stone window frame with recessed spandrels;
2 later windows to its left. C19 outshut projects from the left-hand side. Beyond
it, in what is the rear of the dairy wing is a finely moulded late medieval pointed
granite arched doorway, probably re-used although this wall may pre-date the dairy.
Including outbuilding, possibly stable/granary, attached at left-hand end at rear of
house, projecting from it; wide doorway on ground floor at left hand side of front
and stone steps leading to first floor at left-hand gable end.
Interior: Ground floor rear room (original section) has high very heavily beamed
ceiling with massive chamfered cross beams and deeply chamfered joists. Visible on
the first floor in the corner are the remains of a stone newel stair with moulded
granite newel post. Adjoining it Ls the former garderobe to which the stone seat
partially survives. Adjoining rear ground floor room has rough cross beams with
large open fireplace which has rough timber lintel and stone and brick oven in right-
hand side.
In the C18 front block few original interior features survive although the right-hand
front room is known to have been panelled and there are large panelled doors on the
1st floor. Circa early C19 6-panelled doors and shutters. The staircase has a
closed string, simple handrail, square newels with capping and square balusters, it
is surprisingly plain for a house of this quality. The dairy preserves its slate
floor and shelves.
This house clearly retained its importance in the area from the Middle Ages to the
C18 with the rear portion representing an unusually early domestic survival in this
size building. The C18 block preserve some interior features and its original plan
is clearly defined; it has a basically little altered facade of which the C18 sash
window is an important survival.

Listing NGR: SX4590963512

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17537646

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

• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House