History

Probably built in the C17 and remodelled in the late C18 or early C19. Replication of certain features of the main range in a rear wing suggest that it may be an example of a house built for occupation by two households (i.e. "the unit-system"). Having recently ceased to be used as a farmhouse, at the time of this survey (September 2000) it was unoccupied but undergoing renovation.

Exterior

Built of random sandstone rubble (part exposed, part white-washed and part rendered); blue slate roofs. It has an irregular T-shaped plan formed by a 2-unit, 2-storey front range on a N-S axis facing W, with a 1-unit, 2-storey rear wing offset strongly to the S. The W front (which appears to have had render recently removed) has a doorway flanked by 2 windows on each floor all collectively offset to the right. All three ground-floor openings have segmental-arched brick heads, but both windows at 1st floor have straight wooden lintels. The doorway has a C18 panelled door protected by a small open-work gabled canopy of curved brackets. The window to its left is wider than the others and now has renewed small-paned glazing; all the other windows have small C19 2-light casements with a horizontal glazing bar in the centre of each light. There is a large chimney at the left (N) gable and a small one at the other gable, both rendered and painted white. The left (N) gable wall (which is white-washed, as is the rear wall and the N side of the rear wing) has a small square stairwindow near the rear corner, and a window of similar character near the front corner of the upper floor. The right-hand (S) gable (which is rendered, as is this side of the rear wing) has a small 2-light casement offset towards the rear at ground floor. The rear wall of the main range has a renewed C19 casement at ground floor, close to the junction with the wing, and a 3-light wooden mullioned window above that, with slender diamond-section mullions. There is a similar window at ground floor of this side of the wing, with a long wooden lintel; a small renewed 2-light casement above that; and a former doorway at the junction with the main range, the lower part bricked up and the upper containing an inserted 2-light casement. On the E gable is a chimney like the others. Attached to the E gable wall is a short extension of 2 low storeys, which has a large segmental-headed doorway at ground floor and a low 2-light casement above. On its S side this wing has a renewed 3-light casement on each floor, and there is a similar window at ground floor of the extension.

Interior

The ground floor of the main range has 3 stop-chamfered lateral beams, of relatively light scantling and relatively closely-set, and a lower-end partition beam with continuous mortices of a former plank-and-muntin partition. At the N gable wall is a deep chimney breast containing a large fireplace with a massive oak lintel; to the left of this a recess about 1m wide; and to the right, a doorway to an oak-block spiral staircase (which continues from the chamber floor above to the roof space). In the SE corner of this room is a triangular-headed doorway with a massive chamfered oak doorcase. This leads into the rear wing, which also has a lower-end partition beam with continuous vacant mortices, a stop-chamfered lateral beam, and a deep chimney breast at the E gable wall, with a back-door passage to its left and an altered spiral staircase to its right. At 1st floor the front range has a very fine elmwood plank-and-muntin partition with bead-and-flat decoration to the front, and at its left end a Tudor-arched doorway with original strap-hung door. In the roofspace the main range has 2 collar trusses, the rear wing has one collar truss and one open truss, both have common rafters "on the flat" pegged to the purlins, and massive board floors.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a largely unaltered C17 farmhouse with good internal features.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29493615

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

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas