Oldfields Farmhouse

Farmhouse, dating probably from the 14th century, with alterations in the mid-17th century and mid-to-late 19th century. The farmhouse is timber frame of cruck construction, partially rebuilt and extended in painted brick, with a plain tile roof. It consists of three bays of a former quasi aisled hall, a rebuilt cross wing to the southwest, and a 19th-century addition to the southeast. It is one storey and attic with two-storey additions. The northwest front features a brick ridge stack slightly off-centre to the left, an external brick end stack to the left, and a gabled 19th-century flush cross wing to the right with a toothed-brick eaves cornice and an integral brick end stack. Two small gabled eaves dormers with two-light wooden casements are also present. The front has a two-window arrangement; a 19th-century three-light wooden casement is on the left (the central window was obscured by climbing plants during a survey in July 1987), and a 20th-century glazed door with a 20th-century lean-to porch is on the right. A lean-to addition to the left has a two-light casement facing forward. A rear wing has a toothed brick eaves cornice and an external lateral brick stack.

Inside, significant remains of the former quasi aisled hall survive. There is a central base cruck truss, formerly the hall truss, with a continuous chamfer, arched bracing, and a cambered collar. A probable former spere truss is present with large jowl posts, arched bracing, and a cambered tie-beam. The roof was raised at some time (evidence of joints for a former arcade plate remain). A first floor and stack were inserted around 1600. A central ground-floor room has a pair of ovolo-moulded ceiling beams with ogee stops and plain joists, along with a large open fireplace with a lintel that has been cut back. Reordered 17th-century panelling is also present, along with exposed square-panelled framing in the front wall internally. The open hall was likely originally two bays, one each side of the cruck truss, with at least one lower bay and one upper bay. The present entrance was likely created in the 19th century, whereas the original entrance would have aligned with a screens passage below the spere truss. This is an unusual and important survival of an aisled hall with a base cruck truss, demonstrating group value.