Old Farmhouse

OVER WHITACRE TAMWORTH ROAD SP2491 (South side) 15/159 Old Farmhouse - II Farmhouse. Late C16 and later C17. Timber-framed, roughcast rendered. Brick, also rendered, to a small C18-C19 addition to the west crosswing. Plain-tiled roof with ridge stack of coursed sandstone having shafts of narrow red brick with V-shaped pilasters. The upper courses have been rebuilt. End stack now internal to right hand crosswing. Original plan of main range with crosswing at east end. Crosswing at west end added and subsequently extended. Now irregular H plan. Main range of 2 storeys. C18-C19 iron-frame casements some with original leaded lights and fastenings. Lobby-entry doorway with early C19 doorcase having reeded surround, boss enrichments at corners and narrow hood. Crosswing at east end of 2 storeys and attics with similar fenestration and some enlarged ground floor casements. The crosswing to the west was added later. 2 storeys. Similar fenestration. Now a service end. Extended in C18-C19 towards the road. Brick. Interior: Main range in 2 principal bays with narrower chimney bay. Inglenook hearth of coursed sandstone with red brick lining. Ceiling possibly inserted. At first floor the trusses are visible. At the side of the stack is a stone staircase, now blocked, leading to the roof indicating that the first floor was ceiled originally or that the staircase is an insertion. The roof is of clasped side purlin type but the ends of the purlins pass over the backs of the principals into which they are trenched forming through-purlins. There are Queen-posts, 2 tiers of purlins and associated collars with short raking struts to the upper collars. The principal rafters are trussed and pegged at the apex, as are the common rafters. There is no ridge piece. Also in the roof at the west gable end is a 3-light casement with a splayed mullion remaining. This window is now internal and indicates that the west crosswing is an addition. The crosswing to east has boxed ceiling beams and a hearth, possibly an inglenook. At first floor the hearths are blocked. Main posts have jowled heads. The roof is of similar construction to that over the main range with wind bracing to 2 tiers of through-purlins. The west crosswing is in 4 bays, with one truss having been removed. The roof is of less complex construction but retains a ridge piece. There is an inglenook hearth, also of sandstone with brick above the ridge.

Listing NGR: SP2423091903