Court of farm buildings with brick stable and coach house attached, at Stocks Farm

Court of farm buildings with brick stable and coach house attached at Stocks Farm, Stocks Road, Aldbury.

This rectangular court of farm buildings forms a group of outstanding architectural and structural interest, illustrating changes and development over three centuries. The buildings were constructed to serve the former Stocks House, which was moved to a new site in 1773. The farmhouse itself, built in 1908, stands to the north of the court.

The complex comprises a north range dating to the 16th century, a west range of the late 16th century, a south range of the early 17th century with a late 17th-century gateway in its east part, a late 17th-century east barn, and an early 18th-century coach house adjoining the north-west corner of the east barn, with an early 18th-century stable adjoining the north side of the north range.

The buildings are predominantly timber-framed on low red brick sills. Most are dark weatherboarded, though the east barn displays red brick infill to its exposed square framing. The coach house and stable are constructed of red brick. The buildings are roofed with steep old red tiles (the south range hipped at its west end) except for the coach house, which has a slate roof. A gateway opening in the south range and a further opening at the north between the brick stable and coach house provide access to the court.

The north range comprises three wide bays with swept jowls to the bay posts and unjowled posts at mid-bay. The mid-height rail is tenoned in-line with heavy straight inclined queen-posts clasping a single purlin in each slope and straight wind braces. Some brick infill appears in the east bay of the north wall. A wide opening on the south side occupies the middle bay. The west range consists of six bays featuring a projecting gabled west porch in the fourth bay from the north. It displays heavy jowled posts, long convex curved braces to tie-beams, inclined queen-posts clasping a single purlin in each slope, and squint butted scarf joints in the wall plates. Studs have been replaced by brickwork in part of the east wall.

The higher south range comprises six bays configured as a double barn with a later gateway. It features step-jowled posts with unjowled mid-bay posts and staggered mid-height rail. Straight braces support the tie-beams and collar trusses, which have inclined struts at the lower angles. Upper clasped-purlins and lower butt-jointed purlins staggered in height alternate between bays. A structural partition survives between the barns, and a gabled projecting central south porch survives in the west half. The gateway, roofed in-line with the double barn, contains a single bay with double doors on the south and a narrow east bay with a smaller pedestrian door. Its roof construction matches that of the adjoining east barn.

The east barn, running parallel with the road, consists of six bays with a wide doorway on the east in the third bay from the south. It displays jowled posts with long curved braces to cambered tie-beams. Two clasped-purlins run to each slope, the upper supported on a high collar with two long wide-spaced queen-struts rising from the tie-beam. Spur-collars spring from these tall struts, with a small strut below, and clasp the lower purlin. The tall central gap in the truss facilitates filling the barn to maximum height. The south gable truss has a high collar but features inclined queen-posts clasping the lower purlin.

The twin-gabled two-storey brick stable faces east and displays two windows to each floor with a central wide door topped by a fanlight and a hooded clock case. Small flush casement windows with segmental arches light the building. The brickwork is in header-bond with some blue headers. Inside, the stable contains stalls for three horses on each side with a rear door leading to an extension at higher level. Ornate 18th-century partitions with knobs to posts survive, and a heavy floor over spans three cross-beams.

The coach house, constructed of red brick with random blue headers, faces east and features a taller north pavilion. Twin elliptical arched openings with curved heads accommodate double doors, and a panelled parapet with stone coping runs across the front. A round arched recess at the east end of the rectangular taller pavilion displays a toothed eaves course, plinth, brick panels to the upper part, and a hipped roof. A large arched recess appears on the north face, blank except for a double-sided mounting block. An entrance door occupies the plainer west wall with a window above. Windows have been inserted at two levels on the east side of the pavilion.