History

A large early C17 lateral-fireplace house, dated 'FHA 1632', the initials referring to Francis and Abigail Herbert. The internal partitions are timber-framed, but the exterior may always have been stone. The original house was extended several times, to the W in 1672 (there is said to be a date), to the E in c1750, and to the front in the later C19. A large conservatory was added to the rear in the late C20.

Exterior

The early C17 range is 4-unit and of 2-storeys-with-attics, stuccoed under an old slate roof, with tall lateral stack to rear elevation, and small stone stack to L end. The position of the original entrance is not clear, but it is now to R of centre, in angle with the front wing. Porch canopy with slate roof on timber posts, a lean-to against the wing, inside which is a half-glazed panelled door. The windows are 12-pane hornless sashes of variable size; one window to R of entrance and 2 to upper storey. Datestone between upper storey windows. To the L of the front wing, single windows to ground and upper storey, not aligned; skylights to roof-pitch. To rear, the rendered lateral stack is offset slightly R of centre. To the 1st floor are sash windows under gablets with wave-moulded barge boards; wide gabled bay to far L added later, with 4-pane tripartite sash. Above the gablets, small gabled attic dormers, with Y-tracery and decorated barge boards, containing 2-light wooden casements (that to L is plain-glazed). The ground floor is obscured by late C20 wooden conservatories on stone plinths, and a low block to far R with shallow-pitched roof.

The front wing is 2-storey, stuccoed under a shallow hipped slate roof, with overhanging eaves. Canted bay with modillion cornice to front, containing French doors with large-pane wooden glazing. Tall tripartite sash window above. To R return, under porch, a narrow 12-pane sash window. Later single-storey lean-to with shallow-pitched roof against L return, with canted SW angle containing a 3-light transomed window. To the L end of the L return is a late C20 half-glazed door under a lean-to porch canopy; C20 top-hung window to its R, and to upper storey.

The W block is said to be late C17, though its external character is later. It is 2-storey with large stone end stack, and is lower than the main range and slightly set back. The front has a 16-pane horned sash to ground floor; canted oriel window with late C20 glazing to L of upper storey and 4-pane sash to its R. Rear has doorway to L with split door; small 4-pane window immediately to its R; 12-pane sash to upper storey. Adjoining to the W is a narrower 2-storey range. This has a lean-to against front and a C20 wooden window to ground floor of rear.

E block is 2-storey with rendered end stack to R and small brick stack to L, which may relate to the original building. Front has 12-pane sash window aligned to each storey; rear has 16-pane sash to lower storey, above which is a large tripartite sash. C20 half-glazed wooden door offset to R of gable end with adjacent small-pane casement.

Interior

The entrance leads into a narrow stair-hall with open-well staircase to rear with plain balusters and newel and moulded handrail. The ceiling has been raised and has moulded coving, but on the L wall is an original cross-beam, deeply chamfered with lamb's tongue stop. A corridor leads off to the L, immediately R off which is the original hall, with large lateral stone fireplace with chamfered timber lintel, the ceiling with 3 deeply chamfered cross-beams. On the 1st floor, one of the bedrooms retains part of a box-panelled partition; some old lath and plaster infill was found here. In the attic, good tie-beam trusses with collars and raked struts, the substantial timbers pegged; parts of the box-panelled partitions are also visible.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a large early C17 regional farmhouse, showing development of the country house from the late-C17 to the late-C19 by a series of additions, the whole retaining its historic character and with some good C19 detailing, notwithstanding modern additions to the rear.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29486583

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)