9, 9A, 11 AND 13, FARRER LANE

This is a farmhouse, later divided into three dwellings, dating from the 16th century or earlier, with alterations in the 17th century and subsequent periods. The construction combines timber framing, sandstone, handmade brick, and a stone slate roof. The original layout was a U-shaped plan, with a three-bay range. A wing was added to the front of the first bay, and a two-gabled extension was built to the rear. A further cross-wing, comprising two 18th-century cottages, was added to the right-hand side.

The main range, constructed of large sandstone blocks, has two bays. A worn dripcourse runs along the front. An inserted doorway is located at the left end, and a transomed eight-light window is centrally placed, featuring chamfered flush mullions. Above this window is a six-light window with similar mullions. The two bays are punctuated by two large Tudor-arched lintels, one over a casement window and the other over a blocked doorway, with an altered window above the latter. A ridge chimney is at the junction of the bays. Stone gable copings with kneelers are present to the right, with the same masonry continuing in two lower storeys to the right, beyond the gable line, incorporating altered windows on each floor.

The re-entrant angle of the left wing features a large external chimney stack with offsets at eaves level, built from handmade brick on a high stone plinth. A two-course band runs around the brickwork. The gable end of this wing contains two segmental-headed windows on each floor, with altered glazing. The return wall has one similar window on each floor, along with a doorway with a modern timber porch.

The rear wall incorporates the gabled end of the main range, with a cut-down external chimney stack, a modern window on each floor, and a king-post framed gable. The rear elevation has two gables with original framing, featuring tie-beams or bressumers carried externally on concave-braced ends of wallplates. Further features include a doorway at ground floor and a horizontal sliding sash window on each floor.

Internally, Nos. 9 and 9A (now a single dwelling) retain the close-studded former external wall of the main range, a closed truss with similar studding and, in one rear gable, another truss with two massive raked struts. The wing incorporates a corner wallpost and wallplate, a Tudor-arched stone fireplace, and a similar fireplace in the main range. The hall range (No. 11) has timber posts and, at first floor, some 17th-century muntin-and-rail panelling, though this has been altered. Throughout the building, stop-chamfered spine beams are present with run-out stops.