Longden Hall Farmhouse

SJ 40 NW PONTESBURY C.P. LONGDEN

4/201 Longden Hall - Farmhouse

GV II

Shown on O.S. map as Longden Hall. Farmhouse. Circa 1600, although possibly incorporating parts of an earlier house, extended in late C17 with later additions and alterations. Red brick with plain tile hipped roof. Original plan a hall of 4 bays with cross- passage and lateral stack to west on south wall, to which a west cross-wing projecting to rear was added in late C17. 2 storeys, moulded brick string course carried mid-way round left and right returns and then continued as a plain plat band; 7-bay north front, originally mullioned and transomed windows (blind and painted in imitation to left bay), now replaced by glazing bar sashes and late C20 casements, those to ground floor in round- arched recesses; central entrance, 6-panel door under late C20 gabled brick porch, but formerly with moulded brick pediment; tall lateral stack in roof slope of cross-wing with ovolo-shaped shaft and open-work diamond ornament; tall lateral stacks to back wall, that to east with triple rebated shaft. Interior: cross-passage has an early C17 newel staircase with flat balusters and raked mouldings, another similar staircase set against south wall of west cross-wing is possibly not in original position; room to west of cross-passage has classical mouldings on ceiling beams and there are further chamfered beams in cross-wing. Roof has several re-used timbers including portions of cruck blades, possibly derived from the C15 manor house said to have stood on site. V.C.H. VIII (1968), Pp.261-2; Alcock (1981), p.144.

Listing NGR: SJ4432606203