Lodge Farmhouse

House. The property comprises an early 19th century front range with a 15th or 16th century rear range. The front range is built of red brick, with further extensions and alterations also in red brick. The rear timber-framed range is plastered. The roofs are covered with red plain tiles, with an end left chimney stack to the front range and rear left and right stacks to the rear range.

The front range is two storeys high and has a dentilled eaves cornice. It features a three-window front with tripartite small-paned vertically sliding sash windows. The gauged brick arches above the windows are present, except for the round-headed single light above the central first-floor window. A central four-panel, two-light door is framed by reveal panels, a moulded surround, and a flat canopy.

The rear left range has a hipped and sprocketted roof to the left, with a gablet. This range contains a two-window front featuring vari-light 19th century style casements, and a 20th century glazed door to the right. The right range comprises a single range of vertically sliding sashes with glazing bars.

Inside the early 19th century front range is a stick baluster staircase with a wreathed handrail. The 15th or 16th century rear range has end chimney stacks; the ground floor left stack has a repaired inglenook fireplace with a 16th century pointed segmental head and a semi-circular back. A similar inglenook fireplace is present in the ground floor right stack. Some original brick flooring remains. The roof structure includes stop-chamfered bridging joists, heavy flat section ceiling beams, one arched brace to tie the beams, a halved and bridled top plate scarf, and a complete roof structure with simple two-armed crown posts.

The farmhouse was farmed in partnership by Benjamin Southgate and Benjamin Day in 1796. The property is documented in “Ardleigh in 1796” by F.H. Erith, published in 1978.