Abel's Farm

Abel's Farm

A timber-framed dwelling of late 16th-century origin with later additions and 20th-century extensions and alterations.

The building is constructed as a timber-framed structure with a tiled roof, rendered brick, and brick chimney stacks. The plan comprises a linear range of four bays with two stacks—one at the west gable-end and one positioned to the east between the first and second bays. A perpendicular range extends to the rear, running north-south. A large 20th-century garage extension stands to the south-east of the principal range and is accessed via a lean-to conservatory connected to the house.

The exterior presents as one-and-a-half storeys with small square box framing and diagonal braces visible in the upper half of the first eastern bay and in the second and third bays. A plinth is present at the eastern end. The principal elevation contains four bays, each fitted with a dormer window. All dormers contain late-20th-century uPVC casement windows. At ground floor, the first bay has a small uPVC casement window whilst a large bay window has been inserted into the second. The third bay features a small mid-20th-century entrance porch with hipped roof. A garage door has been inserted into the final bay, which was partly refaced in the late 20th century with timber renewed on the northern and western elevations. The eastern gable contains a further bay window at ground floor with a 20th-century casement window above. The rear elevation has been extended with a two-storey projecting range at the centre, a single-storey extension to the west, and a lean-to conservatory to the east linking to a large 20th-century extension to the south-east.

The interior of the main range contains four cells to each storey, defined by the bay partitions of the timber-framed structure. The principal entrance leads to a hallway with timber posts visible to the rear (south), marking the original extent of the 16th-century building. The east wall of the hall is a timber partition. The entrance hall opens to a sitting room to the east, which contains a beam running west-east with a bar stop at the western end. The eastern end of the beam has been reinforced with an inserted support below, possibly following reduction in the depth of a chimneybreast. The joists appear to be later replacements and are slightly chamfered without stops. The second reception room is located at the eastern end of the building and features a deeply chamfered beam with chamfered joists and bar stops. The westernmost cell is used as a garage and retains the remains of a fireplace on the western gable-end wall.

On the upper floor, rooms are divided by timber-framed stud partitions beneath closed queen-post roof trusses with purlins and wind braces; some of this fabric is exposed whilst sections are encased in later material or partially replaced. The bedroom at the western end has visible purlins and architrave with pintle latch leading to a corridor along the south elevation, with visible sill and wall plate. Moving east, the next bedroom displays visible timber partitions in either wall denoting the bays of the building. A former doorway is visible in the eastern wall, linking it to the room beyond. The wall plate is visible in the northern wall, with two purlins carrying through from the neighbouring bedroom to the west. From the next bedroom the other side of the partition and doorway can be seen with purlins continuing eastward. Chiselled carpenters' marks are visible on some partition timbers. The final bedroom at the eastern end has a small inserted en-suite bathroom. Its western wall contains a further timber partition and the northern wall contains a wall plate with roof braces partially visible above.

To the rear of the ground floor, now used as the breakfast room, is a historic extension with timber framing, ceiling beam and joists dating from the late 18th or early 19th century. This was extended to the south and west in the mid-20th century to provide a new stair hall, WC, and single-storey kitchen. Above, a landing with bathroom and shower room serve the main range. A late-20th-century lean-to conservatory stands to the south-east, adjoining a large garage and snooker room.