The Dower House

BADLEY STOWMARKET ROAD TM 05 NE

1/8 The Dower House (formerly listed as Doveshill Farmhouse) 9.12.55 II

Former farmhouse. Late-mediaeval core with complex C16 and C17 alterations. Mainly of 2 storeys, the cross-wing also with attics. Timber-framed and plastered. Plaintiled roofs with axial and external end chimneys of red brick. C19 small-pane casements at 1st storey, C20 casements at ground storey. The wing has small-pane C19 sashes. Two C20 boarded entrance doors, both with open gabled plaintiled porches on wooden posts. In the centre of the house is a formerly-open hall of C15, or possibly late C14. 3 mutilated trusses, one with a cambered tie-beam. A post is trenched for a passing- brace, probably indicating reuse from a C13/C14 building. Tension-braced studwork, each stud having prominent assembly marks. A hall window, blocked but complete, has square mullions. Complete coupled-rafter roofs, heavily smoke-blackened. The house was extended to left in C16, with widely-spaced studwork with long convex-arched windbraces. A parlour wing was added to right c.1600, with plain framing and good wind-braced side-purlin roof; it was extended rearwards in early C19. A further rear wing was added to the service end in C17. A date of 1604 is associated with the house; this may relate to the parlour wing extension.

Listing NGR: TM0781056101