Abbotts Farmhouse

TL 4115 WIDFORD ABBOTTS LANE (south side) Widford village

5/23 Abbotts Farmhouse

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• II

House. Possibly late medieval, chimney inserted backing onto cross passage c1600, enlarged to W and altered in 1913 (RCHM Typescript). Timberframed and roughcast with C19 tile-hanging to upper storey. Large 1913 extension as cross wing to W in matching materials at front (N) but red brick at rear. Old red tiled half-hipped roofs. A 3-unit plan house of 4 structural bays. Service end at E floored over in early C18 but 3-centred buttery door arch survives paired with a C19 copy. Chimney backs onto cross passage (rear door in use) and present clasped purlin roof is designed without wind braces in the chimney bay. Long bay for hall to W of chimney with heavy timberframed partition on Ground floor and wattle and daub infilled truss in roof. Original W parlour bay has heavy axial joists. 1913 extension beyond. 2 storeys irregular N front with 4 windows and gabled open porch to older part. 2-light flush casements with small panes. Projecting half-hipped gable and W part of 1913 extension on right with same treatment. Small external gable chimney at E, old central chimney rebuilt above roof. 2-bay C17 single storey timberframed and weatherboarded kitchen extending to rear with gabled old tile roof. Large cast iron pump with large flywheel handle next to kitchen. Late C19 3-sided bay window and glazed rear door joined under tiled canopy at rear. Clasped purlin roof with wind braces. Queen post and collar trusses with principals notched but not reduced above collar. Exposed timbers inside include stepped jowl bay posts and curved braces to tie beams, and structure of floor and partitions. An edge-halved scarf with bridled butts in the rear wall plate is more typical of the C15 or C16. So that if the roof was rebuilt c1600 when the chimney was built, then the house may be that of John Abbot resident in 1438 (HLHS (1979) 300. Altered and extended for Francis Pawle on his marriage in 1913. An historic medieval timberframed house.

Listing NGR: TL4179315444