Mowbrays

Mowbrays is a farmhouse dating from the late 15th century or early 16th century, with rebuilding in the late 17th century and alterations and additions from the 19th century. It is constructed of timber framing and plaster, with red brick, and features plain tiled roofs. The building has a ridge stack to the right and a main ridge stack with two diagonal shafts dated 1690, which is scratched on the plaster, along with a tall rear stack to the right.

The farmhouse is two storeys high. The original hall was rebuilt around 1690 and is flanked by two lower, unequal cross wings that were originally jettied. The west cross wing has been extended with a one-storey and attic kitchen range, while the east features a two-storey early 16th-century wing that was originally jettied on three sides. The west cross wing includes one casement window and a first-floor three-light horizontal sliding sash window. The main range has a moulded wooden eaves cornice, a moulded brick band between floors, and a plinth. There is a 19th-century door and doorcase to the left, along with two ground floor and two first floor recessed twelve-paned hung sash windows with gauged brick arches. The east cross wing has two large twelve-paned hung sash windows.

The north elevation has restored plaster paneling from 1968, and a plaster cast was made of the original frieze. The east wing features plastered jetty joists with two corner braces supporting enriched carved posts.

Inside, the main range and east cross wing contain late 17th-century cornices and 18th-century panelling of two heights that form window seats in the main rooms. The chimney stack has been rebuilt for a 19th-century passage at ground floor, and the panelling has been refitted. There is also 17th-century refitted oak and pine panelling, a bolection moulded chimney piece, and an 18th-century closed string staircase.

Mowbrays was one of the manors of Ickleton and has been owned by Clare Hall, Cambridge since 1819.