Barhams Manor

HIGHAM THE GREEN TM 03 NW (east side) 3/12 Barhams Manor 22.2.55 (formerly listed as Green Farmhouse) GV II House. Front range c.1500 with C16 and later additions to rear,remodelled late C18. C19 rear service range. Timber-framed, rendered, with C19 section in red brick in Flemish bond. Stacks white brick to front range, otherwise red. Plain tile roofs except slate to front pitch of main range. Front range originally formed open hall with cross wings, original through passage to right with later stack inserted can still be traced. Two added lower cross wings to rear, that to right linked with Cl9 service block by single-storey brick porch. Two storeys, front range 7 bays arranged 2.1.1.1.2, centre and outer bays break forward slightly. Central Doric porch with 6-panel door in architrave. Tripartite bows with sashes with glazing bars to outer bays, otherwise slightly recessed 12-pane sashes with sills. Mutule cornice. Central pediment. Roof hipped over outer bays. Similar bow window and other detailing to right return. Gabled rear wings, that to right has C19 canted bay with sashes with arched upper panes. Above a 3-light casement flanked by ovolo mullion side lights. Steeply pitched swept roofs. Single- storey painted brick porch with 6-panel door in pilastered doorcase links with rear service range /grain store which retains some original openings under cambered gauged arches, garden front has one original entrance but otherwise blank except for 2 C20 upper windows. Interior: entrance hall oval on plan with round arches to stairhall and front rooms. Stairhall remodelled 1930s, with staircase balustrade of that date. Large C16 chamfered beam with step stop relating to flooring over of hall. Section of open truss exposed above, chamfered cambered tie beam with large hollow chamfered arch brace to one side. Tie beam truncated. Front room to left retains complete scheme of C18 panelling. Original rear entrance survives in part above steps to later cellar. Reused C17 panelling forms dado to 1st floor landing. First floor front room to left has C17 panelling framing two large sections of C16 wall painting with interlaced octagons in black on a white ground with pomegranate and flower motifs in red surmounted by a wide border with Renaissance motifs. Further painting may survive under panelling. Cambered bressummer of former fireplace to outer wall. Rear rooms contain further C17 and C18 panelling. roof reconstructed at time of late C18 remodelling, incorporating several smoke-blackened rafters and a truncated octagonal crown post with shaped base. C18 roof originally M-shaped, apex flattened C20.

Pevsner, N, Suffolk, 2nd ed, 1974, pp.271-2. Lloyd, N, A history of the English House, 1931, p.79, Fig 696 illustrates wall painting which Lloyd describes as 'a rude variation from that of the ceiling in Cardinal Wolsey's closet at Hampton Court (c.1525) but probably of later date'.

Listing NGR: TM0348035634