Four Ashes Farmhouse

TM 07 SW WALSHAM LE WILLOWS FOUR ASHES

3/52 Four Ashes Farmhouse

GV II

Former farmhouse. C15, C16, C17 and C18. Timber-framed and rendered with plaintiled roofs. Complex form. Main range, aligned east-west, in 2 distinct sections, part 1½ storeys, part 2 storeys and attic, linked by an internal chimney-stack with plain red brick shaft. To right of stack, 3 bays of a medieval house, with the present entrance into the original cross-entry: one gabled dormer with plain bargeboards; 2 old casement windows to ground floor, one 3-light and one 2-light, both with a single horizontal bar to lights; 4- panelled entrance door, the top 2 panels glazed, within an open gabled rustic porch. To left of stack, a C16 parlour wing, probably incorporating a further medieval bay, has a reinstated 4-light mullioned window on the ground floor and a small casement window above. A small 2-storey C17 wing projects from the main range: this has a large stepped external chimney-stack on the left with 3 truncated octagonal shafts on moulded bases; plain bargeboards; overhanging tie-beam; an old 3-light casement window to each storey with pintle hinges and a single horizontal bar to lights: on the right side wall, a reinstated mullion-and-transome window d.1984. At the rear of the main range, a tall narrow gabled stair wing with plain bargeboards and overhanging tie- beam, a short flint and brick lean-to, and a red brick gabled wing containing a single-storey kitchen. Little medieval framing visible inside: the tie-beam of the open truss spanning the former hall has been cut through, but long arched braces remain; roof covered, but apparently of simple rafter form. The inserted ceiling in the hall has a double roll-moulding with run-off stops to the main beam and ogee-moulding with run-off stops to the joists. Stack, inserted against the partition at the upper end of hall, with 2 hearths: plain timber lintel on hall side, on parlour side a damaged lintel with double roll- moulding and leaf stops. C16 parlour block with good close-studding and main beam with double roll-moulding. On its front ground floor wall, housings for a long diamond-mullioned window, indicating that part of the older structure is incorporated; on the rear wall, a high 7-light window with moulded mullions in situ. Rear stair wing contains an early C17 dog-leg stair with flat shaped and pierced balusters and pierced newel posts with rounded finials; a small attic room with 2-light window above the stair. The front wing has an open fireplace with ovolo-moulded brick surround, plastered, to ground floor, and a smaller similar upper fireplace with brick exposed. A blocked original window in the side wall, similar to that reinstated on the ground floor.

Listing NGR: TM0007570567