Pigeon House Farmhouse And Adjoining Outbuilding

Pigeon House Farmhouse and an adjoining outbuilding likely originated in the 14th century, significantly altered and extended in the early 17th century, with further changes in the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. The farmhouse is constructed of sandstone rubble, timber framing with brick infill on a rubble base, and replacement rubble walling, featuring a plain tiled roof and three 19th-century brick stacks along the main ridge. It has a hall and cross-wing plan; the hall is a rebuilding of a cruck hall house, composed of two main bays divided by a through-passage bay backing onto a large central chimney. A cross-wing of two framed bays extends at the west end. The north elevation of the cross-wing displays exposed framing, with two rows of panels at the first floor level and large swept braces across the upper corners. The gable ends of this wing feature collar and tie-beam trusses, with four struts beneath the collar and a V-strut above. The north front of the hall part has a 4-light casement window with a cambered head on the ground floor, a 2-light and a 3-light casement on the first floor, and a blocked doorway with an inserted single-light window in the through-passage bay. A gable to the right incorporates a 2-light window with an additional transom light on both floors, and the main entrance, which has a gabled brick porch with a Tudor archway and a partly glazed door, topped with a moulded pendant finial. A 19th-century wing, with an external chimney at its gable end, extends to the rear of the hall range. Internally, the hall range retains a central cruck truss, features a large fireplace, and contains an oak winder staircase. The adjoining outbuilding is timber-framed with brick and rendered infill on a rubble base, with a plain tiled roof. It comprises two framed bays, plus three 19th-century rubble bays. The original part has collar and tie-beam end trusses with two collars and struts and an intermediate collar and tie-beam truss with raking struts; there are two tiers of trenched purlins. The 19th-century addition has two intermediate sling brace trusses. The outbuilding’s north elevation has a 20th-century single-light window inserted into a blocked doorway, and a 2-light window on both levels. The rubble addition has a ground floor window and a ledged and battened door. External rubble steps lead to the rear of the original section.