The Elms

The Elms is a farmhouse with a core dating to the mid-16th century. The house was altered significantly, including re-roofing, and the stack was inserted in the early 17th century, evidenced by the inset terracotta panels (renewed in cement during the mid-20th century) which bear a fleur-de-lys and the date 1613. The construction is timber framed and plastered with a plaintiled roof. A decorative band of pargetted running vine design is visible along the facade at first floor level. Above this are later pargetted panels: to the right, an oval wreath with the date 1708 and the initials 'I' or 'J', followed by 'C'; centrally, flowers in a vase; and to the left, a geometric design based on flower emblems. The house is two storeys and has an attic, arranged with a three-cell plan and four windows, featuring mainly 18th and 19th century casements, and one leaded window on the first floor. There is a late 19th-century colourwashed brick porch with a six-panel door, the upper two panels glazed, along with a mid-20th century glazed door to the right-hand side. Internally, a substantial stack originally had four octagonal flues, one of which has been rebuilt in square form; the bases are moulded brick. The beam over the hall fireplace has a moulded pediment, from which the lower portion is missing, containing an incised star and anchor. The parlour features a particularly fine three-centre arched moulded stucco fireplace with vine motifs in the spandrels. Original features survive, including exposed framing, good original windows with roll-moulded mullions, several original doors, and an original attic newel staircase.