Castlebury

TL 31NE WARE RURAL BAKERS END (west side) 2/28 Castlebury

GV II

Farmhouse, now a house. C17 or earlier, altered c1700 and c1800, doubled in size and cased in Hitch's patent brick in mid C19. Timberframed older W range faced in painted Hitch bricks, parallel E range at rear entirely in Hitch bricks. Steep roof now slated and rear slope extended at flatter pitch over E range. Long 2-storeys building facing W with 4-unit central chimney plan with external cable chimney at N. Asymmetrical W front of 4- windows. Flat arched 3-light casement windows to upper floor, segmental arched 3-light similar windows to around floor with labels over. Pilastered doorcase c1800 with bracketed flat hood has reeded mouldings and half-glazed flush panelled door. Interior has jowled bay-posts, clasped-purlin roof, chamfered axial beam with ogee stops, several cast iron basket grates with relief ornament c1800. The cast iron casements with small panes are probably contemporary with the large buff or red Hitch bricks which were patented bv Cabb Hitch of Ware in 1828 and were used in the vicinity (Branch Johnson (1970) 20).

Listing NGR: TL3934317131