Hopwoods Farmhouse

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL53NE WALDEN ROAD, Sewards End 669-1/4/386 (North side) 01/11/72 No.9 Hopwoods Farmhouse

II

House. Early C16 with late C16 cross-wing, small C18 additions at E end, C20 W wing and rear additions. Timber framing plastered, red brick, slate roofs. Plan L shaped but with C20 further additions. 2 storeys. Front S elevation: long range with central doorway and stack behind ridge, jettied cross-wing at W end, further C20 gabled block to W deeply set back. Old units, ground floor, 2 plain C20 doors with glazing, 2 C19 3-cant bay windows (1 under jetty), sashes with glazing bars, 2x4, 3x4, 2x4 panes. C20 2-light casement window, with leaded glazing at E end. Jetty brackets exposed. First floor, 4 windows (2 with moulded architraves), comprise 2 C19 sliding sashes 6x3 panes, one C19 casement 3x3 panes, one C19 sash 4x4 panes. C20 block, 2 first floor windows to match with glazing bars. Rear N elevation: long range with large central stack through roof pitch. E end, rear outshut with catslide roof and small flat-roofed section with 2-light casement window 4x2 panes. To W, gable of cross-wing with first floor C19 sash window 3x4 panes, C20 brick on ground floor, extended to E with 2-light casement window, similar window above in C20 flat roofed extension from C19 gable. To W, broad C20 gable of added wing projecting and jettied over timber posts. 2 C20 casement windows and boarded door, sash window on first floor matching one in adjacent gable. E end elevation: old house end with projecting wall plates, lean-to with catslide roof to N, 4 C20 casement window, one of 5 lights. W end elevation: C20 conservatory to C20 addition, C19 external stack at SW angle between jettied block and C20 work. INTERIOR: framing of main early C16 range, 5 bays with additional C18 bay at E end. Framing originally open on ground floor with arch braced binding joists. Stack c1700, inserted within structure, now with iron band supporting segmental arched ground floor fireplace to E. First floor framing has partition framing behind (to W) of stack with nailed tension bracing. Bracing position suggests doorway through originally. Rear wall has 3-light diamond mullioned window and remains of another with shutter rebates. Halved and bridle-butted scarf joint in front and back wall plates. Cross-wing of 2 bays probably later, evidence much obscured but some studding and posts of central truss evident. Rear of wing extended in C19. The building appears to have begun as something other than an ordinary house, being completely open on the ground floor yet having an upper floor of 2 rooms and no evidence of a stack.

Listing NGR: TL5651638168