Green Farmhouse

Green Farmhouse, Shustoke Back Lane

Farmhouse, now house. A timber-framed building with red brick infill, representing two principal building periods: early 17th century and mid-17th century, with late 18th-century additions and alterations. The roof is plain-tiled with a ridge stack of sandstone rubble and red brick above the ridge. A side stack to the parlour cross-wing is of squared and coursed sandstone with cogged red brick coping, similar to the side stack of Church Farmhouse, Shustoke dated 1669.

The building comprises an early 17th-century north-south parlour range of two bays with a later 17th-century east-west service range, probably replacing an earlier range on the same site. The two ranges now form a main range with parlour cross-wing, with the cross-passage entry at the rear of the stack positioned in the angle between them. The main range is of two storeys and attic, with a later 17th-century gable to the front displaying exposed small panel framing. Modern wood casements have replaced the original windows. Old sandstone steps lead up to the doorway, now fitted with a 20th-century door. The rear wall has been cased in red brick. The parlour cross-wing is also of two storeys and attic, with the attic storey projecting slightly, though this does not form a structural jetty. Original shaped brackets survive at the ends of the wall plates, carved similarly to the transversal main beam in the parlour wing. The gable head contains serpentine-shaped inclined struts, and small framing of three panels to each wall.

In the 18th century, a single-storey kitchen extension of one bay was added to the end of the parlour wing, with a plain-tiled roof. At the same time, a pantry or dairy was added to the east side, built in red brick with a plain-tiled roof. The 18th- or 19th-century iron-frame horizontal sliding sashes with leaded lights and original fastenings survive. These additions to the parlour wing likely indicate a change of status and ownership.

Interior: The main range contains an inglenook hearth, now blocked, with a chamfered main beam and otherwise plain joists. At first-floor level, an original landing forms a corridor with rooms leading off, suggesting a plan of the later 17th century. The roof is wind-braced with double tiers of through-purlins with the blades halved at the apex and inclined struts from the tie-beam to the heads.

The parlour wing comprises two bays. Originally probably a single room, the parlour is now divided by a late 17th- or 18th-century red brick wall. The main beam is stop-chamfered on both sides; at one end is carving similar to that found on the bracket to the wall plate of the gable, while the other end has been mutilated by a later doorway insertion. The longitudinal ceiling beams and joists are stop-chamfered. The first-floor chambers were ceiled when built. The framing is substantial, with jowled posts and braced tie-beams. The roof is of through-purlin type with tiers of purlins; the centre truss has a King-post. The room at the south end of the attic cross-wing has a floor made of plaster, possibly constructed as a cheese room. The kitchen at the end of the parlour wing is single-storey with an inglenook and bread oven. The wall plate on the west side of the cross-wing features a short splayed scarf joint.