Newneys Farmhouse

TL 71 NE FAIRSTEAD

2/5 Newney's Farmhouse

GV II*

House. C15 and early C17, altered in C20. Timber framed, plastered and weatherboarded, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. At N end, 2-bay crosswing of an early C15 hall house, of which the remainder has been demolished. To S of it, 4-bay lobby entrance house of the early C17 with axial stack in second bay from N end. C20 lean-to conservatories at both ends. 2 storeys. W elevation, 2-window range of mid-C19 sashes with marginal lights. C20 door in simple flat-roofed porch. The roof of the crosswing (at left) has been wholly rebuilt as a hip to the larger house. The crosswing is complete and little altered up to roof level; minor charring of the central tiebeam indicates that the original roof was destroyed by fire. Jowled posts, heavy studding with curved tension braces trenched to the outside, original wattle and daub infill with patterned surface complete in the upper N wall, and almost complete in the upper S wall. Wide arched braces to binding beam and to cambered central tiebeam. Plain joists of horizontal section sawn off at binding beam. Blocked unglazed window at upper front, with 3 of 4 diamond mullions present, and shutter groove. Similar window at upper rear, complete with 2 of 3 diamond mullions. The upper room has been sealed off and disused from an early date, possibly soon after the construction of the main house of c.1600, and therefore preserves valuable evidence of medieval interior finishes. The larger house has jowled posts, face-halved and bladed scarfs in the wallplates, chamfered axial beams with unusual carved stops, and plain joists of vertical section. 2 large wood-burning hearths reduced for C20 grates.

Listing NGR: TL7512017403