History

This house was once an important early C17 farmhouse but it was downgraded in the C19 and derelict in the mid C20. In the 1980's it was mostly roofless and much decayed, but it has since been restored, rebuilt and to some extent changed in the period 1985-95 though its ground plan is still exactly the same as on the 1844 tithe map.

Exterior

The house is built of roughly squared and coursed red sandstone rubble with yellow ashlar dressings and a concrete interlocking tile roof. It is a rectangular three storey block with a two storey barn, possibly once a hayloft over a cowshed, in-line at the downhill end of the range.
The north (entrance) elevation: From the left; the barn is largely plain with two small 2-light windows above another and a lean-to catslide added in 1985-95. This covers the first bay of the house. Next comes a three storey porch, the ground floor of which has a blocked doorway. Above this is a corbelled hearth and a small window, this closet also has small 2-light windows on the returns. Above this floor the wall has been rebuilt with a gable and pigeon holes, this was done in 1985-95, the stack for the corbelled hearth below had already gone. To the left of the gable is a tall ridge stack with four diamond set flues with weathered caps. the next bay has a tall 2-light stair window which dates from the 1980's, then a modern glazed door with a 2-light casement in an elliptical head over. The next bay has a tall 2-light casement on the ground floor and smaller ones on the first floor and attic, but they are not in line above. The final bay is blind with evidence of a blocked window under an oak lintel on the ground floor. The gable end has two windows with dressed heads and another four flue stack with diamond set flues. The garden elevation has five windows and a glazed door on the ground floor and three windows in each floor above. All are 3 3 casements. The roof is low pitch and has clearly been reconstructed between the stacks. The barn has a modern cross-framed stone mullioned casement and a door on the ground floor and four evenly spaced modern windows above.

Interior

This is a three unit single depth cross-passage house but the interior has been changed in the 1985-95 restoration and the main staircase is new. However, despite its derelict state pre-1985 and the subsequent restoration, there are still many historic features in-situ, while some have been moved and others introduced. There are some C17 doors, at least one with a cranked head, several fireplaces with massive stone lintels, some old floorboards (reused), mostly reconstructed beamed ceilings, although one has roll moulded beams. A modern pine staircase, some old panelling, and the closet room over the porch is an interesting survival. The original stair has been reconstructed with oak treads about a central post. The mostly original roof, which survives on the lower side of the stack is a principal rafter one with ties, collars and two tiers of purlins. The rebuilt roof between the stacks was not seen. The barn section has an open interior which bears little relation to its original one. Principal rafter roof with ties and two tiers of purlins.

Reasons for Listing

Included as a once important early C17 farmhouse which, despite its restoration and change in the 1980's following dereliction, still retains a fine character and appearance.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29501147

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: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)