D'Arcy Gate Farmhouse

TOLLESHUNT D'ARCY KELVEDON ROAD TL 91 SW (north side) 3/63 (8/178) D'Arcy Gate Farmhouse 24.5.78 - II

Wrongly shown on OS map as Sparrowhawks Farm. House. C16 and C17, with C18/C19 addition. Timber framed, roughcast rendered, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. Late C16 2-bay crosswing aligned NE-SW, of a C16 house which formerly extended to the SE. Early C17 2-bay extension to the NE, with early C17 internal stack at the junction, and weatherboarded lean-to extension beyond. C18/early C19 single-storey bakehouse extending SE from the lean-to, and further ancillary building beyond, now linked to and incorporated in the main house. Crosswing of 2 storeys with attic, C17 extension of 2 storeys. SE elevation, ground floor, one early C19 sash of 16 lights, one of 20 lights, and one C20 casement; first floor, 3 early C19 sashes of 16, 12 and 12 lights. C20 door at front of gabled porch. SW elevation (to Kelvedon Road), one early C19 sash of 16 lights on each floor, C20 casement in attic gable. The former bakehouse has an exposed timber frame with C20 brick nogging, roofed with slate, and the further ancillary building has similar walling, roofed with red clay pantiles. The crosswing has jowled posts, close studding, a chamfered binding beam with broach stops, and joists of horizontal section, originally plain, chamfered in the C20. Cambered central tiebeam, clasped purlin roof. Original red paint on tiebeam and parts of roof structure. In the NE wall, on the upper floor, is an incomplete oriel window, now blocked by the inserted stack and C17 extension. One window at the side of it is complete with moulded mullion, originally unglazed, with glazing nails showing that leaded glass was attached before the early C17 extension was added. In the attic gable above it, a painted design on the plaster with the date 1573, the initials I.W.A.P., and other numerals in a decorative border, probably the date of construction of this wing. In the SE side, on the first floor, an original doorway with 4-centred head, to the former main range. Wide wood-burning hearths facing both ways, altered for small grates. The C17 extension has primary straight bracing, a face-halved and bladed scarf in the SE wallplate, and a clasped purlin roof. In the first bay a chamfered axial beam and chamfered joists of vertical section, all with lamb's tongue stops. In the second (service) bay, plain joists of horizontal section. Introduced early C17 oak panelling. It appears that originally the house faced NE, away from the Kelvedon Road, and that in the early C17 the main range was demolished and a new range built to the NE, re-aligning the house. Other significant re-alignments have occurred at Limesbrook Farm, nearby, and at Rolls Farm, Tollesbury, and there are other similarities in the buildings. D'Arcy Gate is shown as Greens Farm in Chapman and Andre's map of 1777.

Listing NGR: TL9233312513