Petchfield Farmhouse

Petchfield Farmhouse dates to the late 16th century and was extended in the 18th century, with a refronting in the 19th century and further alterations in the 20th century. It is a timber-framed building with rendered infill on a rubble base; some areas are stuccoed, feature brick refacing, or are constructed of handmade brick and rubble with ashlar dressings. The roof is slate and plain tile covered, with tall brick stacks. The original part of the house comprises three bays aligned north-west/south-east. A parallel range was built adjoining the north-east side in the 18th century and was refronted in the 19th century. The house has two storeys, an attic, and a cellar, with three-course bands marking storey levels in the 18th-century part. The original part has two rows of close-set studding exposed on the first floor and long straight braces in the north-west corner. The south-west side is jettied on a moulded bressummer and underbuilt at the north-west end. A collar and tie-beam truss with two collars, four struts to the lower collar, and two to the upper collar is located at the north-west end. The 19th-century front elevation has a central wing adjoining the rear gable of the original part. This wing features a 3-light casement with a cambered head on each floor. An adjoining wing to the left has a 3-light casement on the ground floor. A 19th-century lean-to addition is to the right of the central part, adjoined to the gable end of the 18th-century range. This 18th-century part has a 2-light casement with a cambered head on the first floor and an attic light. The main entrance, on the south-west side of the original part, has a 19th-century lean-to timber porch and a flush-panelled door with glazed upper panels. A Norwich Union fire insurance mark is attached to the rear of the 19th-century west wing. Internally, much of the roof of the original part survives, featuring two intermediate collar and tie-beam trusses. The main ground floor room has two large stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops and a plaster ceiling with moulded borders and fruit and flower reliefs.