The Brookhouse

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 29/04/2020

SJ 73 SW LOGGERHEADS C.P SMITHY LANE Knighton 4/131 The Brookhouse

II Farmhouse, now house. Probably late C16 or early C17, partially remodelled c.1700 with later additions and alterations; dismantled and removed from its original site during the 1970's, the house is in the process of being re-erected in its present location (in a disused railway cutting) at the time of re-survey (1984). Timber framed on dressed and coursed sandstone plinth with mid-C19 purplish-brown brick cladding to rear, porch also of sandstone; plain tiled roof. Originally a four-bay partly open hall of longhouse type with an unheated storage bay or granary at the lower (formerly east) end, approached by external lateral steps to rear; the eastern middle bay was floored over in late C17 and a double stack inserted at its west end, replacing an existing dual firehood which had heated both the eastern and western middle bays; c.1700 an external stone stack was built against the gable end of the western bay (also formerly unheated). One storey and attic; cellar. Framing: double-pegged close studding with single cross rail and short tension braces; jettied to right-hand gable end with herringbone decoration. At time of re-survey (1984) three windows to ground floor and three gabled eaves dormers (that to right-hand middle bay larger than other two), as left-hand- former storage bay has yet to be re-erected, all two-light late C20 latticed casements. Entrance to left through gabled stone porch with datestone 1636 over door; brown brick ridge VA stack with capping immediately to right. Two partly exposed wall posts to brick-clad rear. Interior: under reconstruction at time of re-survey (1984), but timber frame (including close studding of original firehood) exposed, several C17 plank and muntin doors; the cellar, under right-hand bay and lit by a four-light mullioned window at ground level, incorporates stonework from the C13 Cistercian Abbey of Hulton, close to the house's original site at Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent (note the mason's marks). Roof of Queen- strut type, but with two collars and two tiers of windbraces. It should be noted that in the course of re-erection, the building's axis has been changed so that east has become west et cetera.

Listing NGR: SJ7283140379