Lower Field Bottom Farmhouse

SE 12 NW 1/71 9.8.66

SHELF COLEY ROAD (OFF) Lower Field Bottom Farmhouse (formerly listed as Field Bottom Farmhouse under Lower Shelf)

G.V. II*

House in 2 occupations. Late C15 single aisled timber-framed house encased in stone mid C17. Hammer-dressed stone, stone slate roof. 2 storeys to south front, single storey aisle to rear with 2 storey gabled cross-wing. South front of 3 bays, 3 room plan with through passage. 1st 2 bays break forward and have coped gables, kneelers, crocketed finial and columbarium. 1st bay had double chamfered mullioned window of 8 lights with hoodmould. Over is 14-light mullioned and transomed window with hoodmould. 2nd bay has double-framed chamfered mullioned window with square reveals of 7 lights and single light fire window. Over is 5-light chamfered mullioned window. 3rd bay has doorway with composite jambs and square lintel with chamfered surround, now 2-light window, over is 2-light flat faced mullioned window. To right of door is 4-light flat faced mullioned window with 4-light chamfered mullioned window over. 3 stacks, one to right hand gable, one at junction of 2nd and 3rd bays indicating a hearth passage and one lateral stack to left hand return wall of 1st bay. Rear has chamfered mullioned windows of 3 lights and 2 lights to ground floor of cross- wing with 4-light window over. Socketed to uncoped gable for finial (missing). Aisle has cat slide roof and cottage doorways with monolithic jambs flanked by flat faced mullioned windows of 4 lights to the left and 2 lights to the right.

Interior: Substantial remains of timber-framed house with close studded wall to arcade plate and fully framed wall between chamber over hall and cross-wing. No sign of communication between chambers suggests open hall. Through passage has ogee timber arched doorway with chamfered surround into housebody which preserves heck post, firescreen with attached settle, bressumer resting on original outside post. Inside fire area is spice cupboard with plaster needed surround and decorative plaster over. Chamber over preserves remains of original wall plate, tie beam with canted timbers for firehood braced to post and morticed to soffit for firehood. This house preserves largely intact a late medieval timber-framed hall and original solar wing. The hall was enlarged in the stone casing and it is remarkable that the earlier timber structure was preserved in the chamber over the housebody. A rare and important survival.

Listing NGR: SE1244027399