Whiteheads

Whiteheads is a former farmhouse, dating to the 15th century or earlier, with significant additions from the late 16th century. The house is timber framed and plastered, with a pegtile roof that is hipped at both ends. A prominent off-centre brick stack features unusual 'concertina' shafts and a plaster panel bearing the painted initials 'J.S. 1560'. A smaller stack is located through the northern hipped end. The front facade includes an off-centre gabled porch and 20th-century hardwood casement windows with leaded lights. A large, two-storey extension was built in the 20th century on the northeast corner, using timbers salvaged from a fire-damaged barn that originally stood closer to the road. This extension has a gabled pegtile roof and red brickwork, with exposed timber framing.

Internally, the timber frame is visible, revealing crosswings at each end. Each crosswing has a single brace to the tie beam and mortices for queen post roofs. The central block is a late 16th-century rebuilding, incorporating an integral floor and heavy arch braces to the tie beam. The stack is arranged as a ‘baffle entry’ and includes a large inglenook fireplace in the ‘hall’ and an oven in its western face. The site is a moated one.