Parley Beams Farmhouse

Parley Beams Farmhouse is a house that dates from the 14th century or earlier, with additions from the 16th century and early 19th century. It is timber framed and plastered, featuring a facade of gault brick laid in Flemish bond, and is roofed with handmade red plain tiles. The building has a complex layout, with a main range facing north that includes two stacks in the rear pitch of the roof, and a slate-roofed lean-to extension at the back. There is a 16th-century wing at the rear right with two axial stacks, a two-bay crosswing at the left end of the main range, likely from the late 14th century, and a wider range to the rear with an external stack on the left, creating a U-shaped plan.

The farmhouse is two storeys high and has a four-window range of early 19th-century tripartite sashes with 4:12:4 lights set in flat arches of gauged brick. The entrance features an off-centre six-panel door, with the top two panels glazed, flanked by Tuscan pilasters that are fluted on the upper two-thirds, an entablature with roundels over each pilaster, and an open pediment with a central motif of coupled diamonds. The main roof has a plain parapet and gablet hips at each end. Most of the other windows are small-paned sashes with moulded surrounds.

On the left side of the house is a 17th-century wooden window with a wrought iron casement and rectangular leaded lights. The rear lean-to has a late 17th-century recessed door with a moulded architrave featuring a central keystone in painted wood, topped with an elaborate moulded cornice. The house shows significant complexity due to various rebuildings over time. The left crosswing from the 14th century has a heavy crownpost roof with remnants of a louvre. The rear wing, which previously had a crownpost roof, now features an intricate series of arched collars, each nailed to a rafter, creating a pointed wagon ceiling. This range has been truncated at the front end. The main range has a wind-braced butt-purlin roof with queen posts and high arched collars. At the back, there is a typical 17th-century gabled stair tower that now serves as a room on the first floor, along with much simple 17th-century panelling and an early 19th-century staircase, panelling, doors, and corner cupboard.