Oakbeam is a Grade II* listed building in the East Hertfordshire local planning authority area, England. First listed on 24 November 1966. A Medieval House. 2 related planning applications.
Oakbeam
- WRENN ID
- vast-pillar-burdock
- Grade
- II*
- Local Planning Authority
- East Hertfordshire
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 24 November 1966
- Type
- House
- Period
- Medieval
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
This is a Wealden house, likely dating from the 15th century or earlier, with a chimney inserted around 1700, and a south wing added in the 18th century. It was divided in the 19th century. The structure is timber-framed with a tarred brick sill, roughcast exterior, and a steep roof covered in old red tiles which extend as a catslide over the rear outshot. The south wing is of painted brick.
The house originally had an open hall and storeyed end bays, projecting forward and jettied, all covered by a single pitched roof. The front eaves extend beyond the front wall of the hall, connecting the jettied end bays. Curved braces support the wallplate above the gap, and curved timbers link this to the hall's inner wallplate, forming a cove. A parlour with a solar is located at the north end (formerly No 34), and there's a cross-passage within the hall with a chimney backing onto it. There were originally twin four-centred arches into the south bay, formerly dividing the space axially for service rooms. The south wing was built as a separate small house on a single-fronted, double-pile plan, and is now incorporated into No 36. A chimney was inserted in the 19th century in the rear northwest corner of the north parlour wing, when that part became a separate cottage with a small gabled one-storey rear wing. The front has three flush casement windows on each floor with small panes. There's a segmental oriel window set under the left-hand jetty, and recessed sash windows to the south wing. A panelled door leads up steps to the cross-passage. A union firemark is located centrally at first floor level. A small upper window has been cut through the cove above the middle bedroom window.
The interior features heavy moulded cambered tie-beams with deep arched braces to the open-truss of the hall, close studding in the walls and partitions with curved tension bracing, and chamfered floor beams. A staircase is located at the back of the hall, in line with the inserted chimney. This is a relatively unaltered example of an unusual late medieval house type.
Detailed Attributes
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