The Old Farmhouse And Dairy

The Old Farmhouse and Dairy is a house, originally dating to the late Medieval period, with substantial remodelling around the early 17th century, further extensions in the 18th century, and 20th-century alterations. It is timber-framed, with sections rebuilt and extended in brick, now all rendered. The building has a gable-ended roof, and truncated axial, lateral, and gable-end brick stacks.

The original plan comprised a hall and a cross-wing; the cross-wing on the north side is of late Medieval origin. Its first floor was originally jettied on three sides, and the ground floor was divided into two rooms, the larger one at the front. The main range likely occupied the site of the Medieval hall, rebuilt in the early 17th century, probably coinciding with the rebuilding of the cross-wing’s first floor. Around the 18th century, the hall range’s walls were rebuilt in brick, a single-storey and attic, one-bay range was added to the south end, and a stair tower was constructed in the angle of the cross-wing at the rear. A wing to the rear of the cross-wing is also likely from the 18th century. In the 20th century, the jetties of the cross-wing were underbuilt, and three shop fronts were inserted at the front.

The east front is asymmetrical, with three windows, a projecting gabled cross-wing to the right, and a single-storey and attic range to the left. There are 20th-century three-light casements and flat-roof dormers. Three 20th-century shop fronts occupy the ground floor. The rear elevation features a gabled cross-wing on the left, a gabled stair tower in the angle, and a lower gable-ended wing projecting from the cross-wing.

Inside the cross-wing, a timber-frame partition wall is present. The front and back rooms have dragon beams, chamfered axial and cross-beams with step stops, and unchamfered joists. The chambers above have chamfered cross-beams and unchamfered joists. The former hall in the main south range retains a chamfered axial beam with ogee stops and unchamfered joists, as does the hall chamber above. The attic chamber above also displays large purlins. The rear wing has a chamfered cross-beam with waney ends and unchamfered joists.

The property has historical significance as the former home of the de Salfords family, with references to the de Salfords of Merridale dating back to the early 14th century.