The Downs Farmhouse

The Downs Farmhouse is a former farmhouse dating back to the early 16th century, with later additions. It is constructed of timber framing, now rendered, with rear extensions partly faced in 19th-century red brick. The roof is covered in plain tiles. The original design was based on a three-cell plan, featuring an external chimney stack on the rear wall of the hall and a cross entry. The stack has been rebuilt in plain red brick. The front has a four-window arrangement: the upper floor has two-light casement windows with square-leaded panes, pintle hinges, and small brackets below the sills. The ground floor has two small-paned sash windows in cased frames, and one cross window with square leading. An Edwardian four-panelled entrance door remains in its original cross-entry position, with a corresponding door on the rear wall. The entrance has sunk panels, the top two glazed, and a flat pediment with shaped mock-Jacobean brackets. The door frame comprises four bays.

The interior features an exceptionally fine carved and moulded ceiling in the central two-bay ground-floor hall, recently exposed. The main cross-beams have multiple roll-mouldings combined with two rows of running-leaf design, which terminate in leaf-stops. At the intersection of these beams is a carved angel with outstretched wings, surrounded by an ornate canopy; it wears flowing robes and carries a shield. The triangular-section joists also have multiple roll-mouldings terminating in leaf-stops with varying central motifs, including flowers, fruit, figures, and miniature trees. The cambered fireplace lintel, partially damaged by later plastering, has lower and wider bands of running-leaf carving, separated by an embattled ornament. A shield bearing the Mowbray crest of a lion rampant is in the centre of the upper band. The remaining framing of the main range is plain. The roof is inaccessible. The rear range is divided into three sections, the one nearest the main house comprising two bays, one of which now contains a straight flight of stairs. A main beam, cut back for render, has supporting brackets and plain, unchamfered joists on the ground floor.