Valley Farmhouse

TL 7229 6/195 21.12.67

WETHERSFIELD OAK HILL (west side) Valley Farmhouse

GV II*

House. Early C16, altered in C17 and C19. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. 3-bay main range facing SE with axial stack in right bay, and two 3-bay crosswings, each with an external stack at the side, forming an Ii-plan. 2 storeys. Ground floor, 2 late C19 bays of sashes of 2-4-2 lights, one early C19 sash of 4 lights, French windows with marginal lights. First floor, 4 late C19 sashes of 4 lights. Half-glazed door in latticed porch with hipped slate roof, late C19. C19 bargeboards with moulded finials. Crosswing roofs hipped at rear. 3 octagonal shafts on main stack. Jowled posts, close studding. The hall range has a large-wood-burning hearth facing left, leaving the original cross-entry unobstructed, an inserted floor comprising moulded transverse and longitudinal beams with lamb's tongue stops (partly boxed in), moulded joists of horizontal section, and moulded clamps, and a clasped purlin roof. The left (parlour/solar) crosswing has short arched braces to one binding beam, plain joists of unusually heavy horizontal section, one cambered tiebeam with deep arched braces (the other tiebeam missing) and a crownpost roof with axial bracing. The right (service) crosswing has an original studded partition between the middle and rear bays, a half-height jowl of unusual stepped design, and a similar crownpost roof. The upper front room is lined with early C17 oak panelling with a C19 reproduction frieze. Original rebated floorboards in both crosswings. This house has an unusual range of original interior features, and others are likely to be present but concealed. RCHM 39.

Listing NGR: TL7289329807