Hill Farmhouse

Farmhouse. Dating from the late 16th century, the building originally comprised a two-cell range, with later additions constructed in two phases to the rear (north), and further alterations in the late 20th century. It is timber framed and plastered with a plaintiled roof. The farmhouse is two storeys high, with evidence of a former attic in the main range. Most of the windows are mid-20th century, single-paned casements, although one ground floor window retains its original 16th-century cavetto mullions. A two-storey porch, dating to the 17th century, projects slightly and has a gabled roof supported by timber posts with a mid-20th century tiled pent roof. The entrance is through a mid-20th century boarded door. Two stacks are situated against the rear wall of the main range.

Inside, the hall ceiling features cross beams and chamfered joists, with the main bridging beam having been reduced in depth. A section of the ceiling was removed to accommodate a 19th-century straight staircase, and a former service partition has also been removed. On the upper floor, the service chamber reveals exposed studding with cranked reverse-curved braces, and there is evidence of wide original windows. The plaster ceiling of this room is divided into square and oblong panels with reeded borders, decorated with incised patterns of foliage including vine, tulip, thistle and an ear of barley. The dating of this decorative work is uncertain, but it may be from around 1700. The roof retains its original structure, featuring a single row of wind-braced clasped purlins. A rear addition to the north-east, now reduced in size, was originally part of a service wing. The property was formerly known as Monk Soham House.