Wakelands Farmhouse

TL 63 NE STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD Wakelands Farmhouse 4/4 II

Hall house, early C16, altered in C17 and C20. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. 2-bay hall aligned approx. N-S, integral service end to S (probably unstoreyed originally), 3-bay parlour/solar crosswing to N, jettied to W. Axial chimney stack inserted in S bay of hall, in 2 stages, before and after 1600. External chimney stack to N of crosswing, early C17. 2 storeys. W elevation (originally the front, now facing into farmyard), plain door, 3 C20 casement windows, 4 plain brackets partly exposed below jetty. First floor, 2 C20 casement windows, of which one is in a gabled dormer. Posts originally jowled, some jowls later cut back. Ground floor of crosswing partitioned in 2 and one bays, binding beam in larger room with double ogee mouldings and converging stops, other plain-chamfered. Inserted floor in N bay of hall, c.1600, transverse beam plain-chamfered with lamb's tongue stop, axial beam unchamfered, joists plastered to soffits. Inserted floor in S (service) bay, C18, axial beam plain-chamfered with plain stops, joists unchamfered. Original rebated floorboards over hall. Edge-halved and bridled scarf in W wallplate. Heavily smoke-blackened rafters in S bay of hall, indicating smoke bay or timber framed chimney before the present brick chimney was inserted. Both roofs rebuilt, originally of crownpost construction, now in clasped purlin form. Central tiebeam of hall severed for doorway. C20 alterations are superficial only.

Listing NGR: TL6818439187