King'S Cottage, Street Farm And Lower Somersham Post Office

TM 04 NE 6/159

SOMERSHAM MAIN ROAD King's Cottage, Street Farm and Lower Somersham Post Office

II

3 houses, one of which includes the Post Office. Formerly (until early C20) The King's Head Inn, but probably built as a 3-cell farmhouse in C15 or early C16. A complex building of 4 main units, all built by mid C17.

Phase 1:- The central range of early C16 or earlier, with mid C19 alterations (the major portion of Street Farmhouse). A hall with service cell. 2 storeys, 4 windows. Timber-framed, encased at front in C19 painted red brick. Plaintiled roof with axial C17 chimney of red brick. C19 casements with segmental heads, some having small panes. C19 4-panelled entrance door with lean-to canopy on brackets. In the hall are heavy exposed 1st floor joists and a cross-passage. The bar seating, corner cupboard and other early C19 features are retained internally. The front wall was raised, and the roof partly rebuilt in C19. Phase 2:- A dairy/bakehouse range, originally detached, projecting forward to right (now the Post Office). C16, 2 storeys, 3 cells. Timber-framed ana roughcast. Plaintiled roof (one slope concrete tiled) with axial C17 chimney of red brick. Various C19 casements and sashes. Good unmoulded framing exposed internally. A small C17/C18 2-storeyea wing added to rear right. Single- storey extensions to right, of red brick, C19 and late C20. Phase 3:- A short set-forward cross-wing added to left-hand end in mid C16 (now part of King's Cottage). 2 storeys. Timber-framed and roughcast; the gable is jettied at 1st floor and again ac the gable foot, with moulded fascia- bressumers at each level; at 1st floor are 2 knees, one rising from a carved shaft. The rear gable and chimney of red brick are a C17 or early C18 alteration. A 2-storey lace C20 extension at left is not of special interest. Phase 4:- . A gabled cross-wing (now part of Street Farmhouse) probably of service function, was inserted in C17 between Phases 1 and 2. 2 storeys. Timber- framed and plastered. Plaintiled roof with axial C17 chimney of red brick.

Listing NGR: TM0858048656