25, Kempton

SO 38 SE 4/89

CLUNBURY CP KEMPTON No. 25

1.12.51

GV II* House. Mid-to late C15, partly remodelled late C17 or early C18 with later additions and alterations and late C20 extension. Timber framed with rendered and painted brick infill and painted uncoursed limestone rubble to right gable end; straw thatch roof.

Original plan an open-hall house, aligned east-west, probably of four cruck-framed bays (including solar); east bay (service-end) with first floor and with ornamental truss between centre and west bays of hall; centre bay floored over in late C17 when west bay and solar were demolished and integral end stack built converting plan to two-cell baffle-entry type. One storey and attic. Framing: square and rectangular panels, two from cill to wall-plate. Large arch-braced true cruck truss to right gable end has stepping to apex, suggesting that whole truss was intended to be visible from within open hall. C19 casements to left and right and two raking eaves dormers, also with apparently C19 windows. C20 ledged door to far right. Integral rubblestone end stack to right.

Interior: three true cruck trusses survive, including that exposed externally to right gable end, present central truss also formerly with arch-braced collar, now sawn-off. First floor to east bay is probably original (on different level from first floor of present right bay); room below divided by square panelled spine wall, each small room entered by separate doors to either side of dividing wall. This arrangement possibly preserves the lay-out of the medieval service-end with buttery and pantry. There is some evidence for the position of a screens passage below the present centre cruck truss but evidence for external entrances is obliterated to rear and hard to detect to front. Inserted floor to present right room has parallel chamfered spine beams with flat joists (late C17/early C18) and contemporary chamfered wooden lintel to stone inglenook fireplace. Left dormer has two-light chamfered wooden mullion window with stave holes for vertical bars, probably C17 or earlier. Remains of leather covering. Spine wall dividing left ground-floor room has two leather pockets attached. Inset cupboard above and to left of fireplace also has leather covering to butterfly hinges.

Two-storey timber framed addition in matching style to rear, dated "1978" on tie beam, is not of special architectural interest.

Listing NGR: SO3572583008