Elms Farmhouse

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL53NE WALDEN ROAD, Sewards End 669-1/4/395 (South side) 01/11/72 No.42 Elms Farmhouse

II

House. 1676 or earlier, with later C20 restoration. Timber-framed and plastered, peg-tiled roof, red brick stack. Plan L shaped. 2 storeys and attic. Front W elevation: long 3-window range, large articulated square stack towards S end, doorway directly in front. All windows sliding sashes 4x3 panes, C19 but partly restored in C20. Ground floor N end window missing. Doorway restored, plain cornice hood and jambs, 4 panelled door. Wall has C20 basket pargetting. Over doorway, lozenge relief panel, foliage decorated with corner bosses, dated 1676. Rear E elevation: similar to front but with short gabled wing to E and S end. C20 basket pargetting on principal range. Wing ashlar lined. Windows somewhat scattered, C20 casements. 2-storey and attic in wing, 2 storey and gabled dormer in main range. 2 C20 glazed doors one in each unit. N and S end elevations: similar, each with 2 ground floor windows 1 and 2 lights, also, 2-light attic casement window 4x2 panes. Weathering board at tie-beam level. INTERIOR: framing exposed, 3 celled lobby-entrance system with chimney bay. Clasped side purlin roof with shallow curved wind braces. Bladed scarf joints in wall plates. Stack has large ground floor back-to-back timber-lintelled fireplaces with thin bricks. First floor, single timber-lintelled fireplace to chamber over parlour (S end). Stack shaft appears added to principal one tapered from ground floor. 1676 date on house may not relate to original build as stack appears earlier C17. Date may celebrate improvements including addition of single chamber fireplace and rebuilding of upper stage of stack in late C17 style.

Listing NGR: TL5706438153