Avenue Farm House

ST IPPOLLITTS MAYDENCROFT LANE TL 1827 (South side) Gosmore

8/62 Avenue Farm House 27.5.68 GV II*

Farmhouse. Late medieval N wing, E wing c.1700 (possibly an older wing remodelled) with new entrance in E front. Timber frame brick cased, E wing largely brick built in dark red brick with black headers and light red brick dressings and arches. Steep old red tile roofs, E wing half-hipped. Old 2-storeys N Wing, facing S, has large internal chimney at junction of wings with gabled stair projection to N of it. Larger stair tower added in angle with new or remodelled E-wing rather later. E wing of 2 storeys and attics has central passage and 2 rooms to each floor with rearwall chimneys projecting externally. Fine symmetrical E front 5 windows wide with central entrance. 3 flat topped dormer windows on steep roofslope. Widely projecting wooden modillioned eaves cornice. Flush box sash windows with gauged flat arches with 6/6 panes on 1st floor but 6/9 panes in taller ground floor windows. 3 moulded stone steps with splayed iron hand rails to 6-panels divided door, upper panels fielded, bottom panels flush beaded. Semi-circular fanlight with radial fan in pilastered Doric doorcase with dentilled entablature and triangular open pediment. Early C18 stair has awkward access to attic. Panelled N room with original fireplace on ground floor off stone floored entrance. Name refers to broad mature beech avenue extending to E of house on axis of its E front. (Pevsner (1977)148: RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TL1870427029