16 And 18, Middle Street

This is a late 15th or early 16th century farmhouse, now divided into two separate dwellings, located on Middle Street in Great Gransden. The main range is timber-framed and has been plastered, comprising five bays. A two-bay cross-wing extends to the south, possibly originally jettied with alterations to the street facade in the late 19th century. The roof is covered with plain tiles, with a half-hipped design on the cross-wing. A large ridge stack features three reduced, late 16th century engaged diagonal brick shafts, and a 20th century brick stack is on the cross-wing.

The two storeys have five first-floor windows and four ground-floor windows, all with casements of varying sizes and glazing bars. Number 18 has a wide, half-glazed door, while Number 16 features a bay window and a separate door.

The original interior layout was altered in the 19th century when a hearth was built into the cross-passage of the main range, backing onto the hall hearth. Two original service rooms to the north were combined into one heated room, retaining the original trapdoor for a stair or ladder. The hall’s inglenook hearth has a fine moulded mantel beam, and there are also moulded cross-beams to the ceilings with hollow-chamfered and stopped joists. Internal features include solid braces with hollow-chamfers at first floor level of the chimney truss, and evidence of similar, but larger braces to the display truss. A splayed and under-squinted scarf-joint is visible on the west wall plate, along with a series of circular carpenters' assembly marks. The roof structure is a side purlin roof with curved wind braces in each bay.