Leam Farmhouse

Leam Farmhouse is a house dating from circa 1665, though possibly with earlier origins, located in Wolfhampcote. The building is believed to be of sandstone, now largely obscured by modern roughcast render, with replacement brick stacks. It appears to have a two- or three-room plan, with rooms to either side of a central cross-passage.

The two-storey, three-bay main elevation features regularly disposed modern casement windows. The southern return and the rear of the house retain three-light, hollow-chamfered stone mullioned windows with hood moulds, which are now infilled. A datestone inscribed "ANNO DOMINE / 1665 / WILLIAM / BASELEY / SB :-: RH" is visible on the south gable end. The interior has not been inspected.

The house clearly dates from no later than the 17th century, retaining windows from this period and a date stone for 1665, inscribed with the name of William Baseley. Baseley was recorded as a yeoman of Sawbridge in 1664. The house’s form suggests possible origins as a late medieval hall-house, although it was altered in the 17th century to create the current layout. In the later 20th century, the main elevation was altered with the addition of modern casement windows within enlarged openings, buttresses were added, and the entire building was rendered.

Leam Farmhouse is designated at Grade II for several reasons. It dates from at least 1665 and retains significant fabric of that date, including the building's envelope and some 17th-century hollow-chamfered windows. Local precedents and the building's form suggest it may represent a survival of an even earlier house, potentially dating from the 15th century. Its group value with nearby listed houses of similar date, including Old House Farmhouse, Manor Farmhouse, and Red Roof Farm, is also significant.