Latchleys Farmhouse

TL 63 NE STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD 4/1 Latchleys Farmhouse 7/8/52 (formerly listed as Larchleys Manor House) GV II*

Manor house, c.1520, extended in C17 and C18, altered in C20. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. 5-bay range aligned N-S, jettied to the W, with external chimney stack on E wall of second bay from S. 3-bay range to W of N end with chimney stack at the junction, c.1600, and stair tower in SW angle. Smaller C17/18 extensions to E of main range. C18 extension to W of W wing. Jetty of original range partly enclosed, underbuilt elsewhere. 2 storeys and cellar. S elevations, one 6-panel door, one 4-panel door, 8 C20 casement windows. First floor, 8 C20 casement windows. Roof of stair tower hipped. C19 scalloped bargeboards on S gable. Grouped diagonal shafts on central chimney stack. C17 carved bargeboards on W end of W wing, much weathered. The interior has jowled posts and curved braces trenched inside heavy studding. The original range has cambered tiebeams with one surviving pair of braces forming a depressed arch, edge-halved and bridled scarfs in the wallplates, and a clasped purlin roof with arch-braced collars and curved wind bracing, with a ceiling inserted c.1600. The N ground-floor room of 2 bays has transverse and axial beams with double ogee mouldings, carved running foliage, and carved bosses of roses, pomegranates and other devices. The room to the S, originally of 2 bays, has plain-chamfered beams, and the hearth contains a late C17 cast iron fireback representing Neptune and mermaids, etc. (recorded in another room by the RCHM). The S bay is a short one, originally partitioned off but now combined with the next room. Part of the jetty is exposed internally, with one plain brace and very wide joists jointed to the axial beam and soffit tenons with diminished haunches (Hewett 1980, figure 303). The W wing has very high rooms at both levels; blocked dormers in the N pitch of the roof indicate that the attic was designed for occupation. The wallplates have face-halved and bladed scarfs; the roof is of clasped purlin construction. The staircase is of early C17 date, with a well, square newels, large turned balusters, a heavy moulded rail, and a broad string with bolection-moulded diamonds. A number of interior features recorded by the RCHM are not now present. Tapestry from the house is at Saffron Walden Museum. The inclusion of pomegranates in the carving allows the earlier part of the house to be closely dated to the period between the coronation of Catherine of Aragon in 1509 and her fall from the King's favour in 1526; this is consistent with all other physical features, and forms a valuable check on dating methods in use in Essex. RCHM 7.

Listing NGR: TL6712439598