The Birches

In the entry for HIGHLEY HIGHLEY

32/5 The Birches

The description shall be amended to read:

Vicarage, now house, c.1620 for Robert Barret; extended to left and altered c.1750; further mid C19 and C20 alteration. Timber-framed, mostly rendered and, to rear, replaced by brick; gabled plain old tile roofs; two early C17 rear lateral stacks of squared and coursed stone finished in C19 brick. Cross -shaped plan, with central porch and former kitchen in basement to right; bay to left added in mid C18. 2 storeys; garden front of 4-window range, including C17 three - bay range with projecting central gabled bay. Bay to right has straight bracing to exposed timber frame, with square first-floor framing and close studding to ground floor, and two C17 four - light ovolo-moulded wood-mullioned and transomed windows; jettied porch has square panelling to first floor with ovolo- moulded jetty bressummer, and mid C19 three - and 4 - light Gothick -style windows; rendered arches over C20 windows and door (with glazed porch) to left. Jettied right-end gable, with ovolo-moulded bressummer, has lunette set over mid C18 canted 2-storey bay with glazing-bar sashes (of 1989) set in Gothick-style architraves; crenellated left gable wall, probably of mid C18, has lunette set above label moulds over C20 windows. Mid C19 stair- light with leaded lights to rear.C17 rear wing has brackets to hipped hood over mid C19 half-glazed Gothick-style door. Interior: Large open fireplace to right of cellar. Mid C18 panelled doors set in moulded wood architraves. C17 house divided into 2 large rooms by timber-framed partition with ovolo-moulded doorway to rear: room to left has reset early C17 panelling with heraldic cartouche to overmantle, and cased beam; room to right has chamfered beams; rear wing has mid C18 open-well staircase with turned balusters, ramped handrail, fret-cut brackets to open string and splat balusters from ground floor to cellar; first-floor room to right has mid C18 fireplace with bold cornice, and chamfered beam with lambs- tongue stops repeated in room to left; attic has trenched purlin trusses with reused C15 principal rafters (mortices for windbraces and tenoned butt purlins) and collar with carved boss from C15 arch- braced roof. Mid C18 extension to left has mid C19 dog-leg staircase with turned balusters and reset C17 splat balusters to attic. (G. Nair, Highley, 1988, p.82).

1. 1954 HIGHLEY HIGHLEY

The Birches SO 78 SW 32/5

II

1. Formerly the Vicarage. C19. plastered walls, with tiled roof and brick stacks; 2 storeys and attic. Irregular on plan and elevations; sashes and casement windows; semi-circular windows in gables.

Listing NGR: SO7414583964