Lower Spoad Farmhouse And Small Farm Adjoining

Possibly a hunting lodge, now a farmhouse and small barn. The building likely dates to the 14th or 15th century with alterations in the 16th century, and probable refacing and extensions in the 18th or 19th century. It is timber framed, built using cruck construction, and rebuilt or refaced with coursed limestone rubble, partly painted, with a slate roof. The original layout seems to have been 3 or 4 framed bays, with a later cross-wing to the left, forming an L-plan. The elevations are one storey and attic, two storeys, and two stories and an attic. A large stone ridge stack is off-centre to the right side. The cross-wing features an integral lateral brick stack and an external stone end stack at the rear. The left-hand gable has a 2-light attic casement and two mid-to-late 19th century three-light casements. A boarded door, set within a 20th-century glazed porch, is located between the first and second windows from the right. There is a later lean-to addition to the left, and a large barn abuts at a right angle to the right. At the rear of the main range, eaves have been raised. The small barn to the north has vents. A stone and slate roofed lean-to extends from the north gable-end, formed from an extension of the adjoining large barn. A half-glazed door with a bracketed hood is set into the angle of the L-plan. Inside, at least four full cruck trusses are visible within the barn, paired in the north section; there are tie beams and collars with V-struts of Alcock Apex-type B. A stack and first floor were inserted around 1550 in the third framed bay from the north, along with a carved cambered fireplace lintel depicting a hunting scene with a doe and stag, pursued by hounds. The ceiling has triangular-section joists. The farmhouse is reputedly a former Clun Forest hunting lodge. The farmhouse, small barn, and adjoining large barn form a very impressive and exceptional group. The building is designated Grade II* due to its fine cruck structure and the carved fireplace lintel.