Pear Tree Cottage Pear Tree Farmhouse

TM 07 SW WATTISFIELD WALSHAM ROAD

3/116 Pear Tree Farmhouse & Pear Tree Cottage

II

Farmhouse, now divided into 2. Late C16 and C17. Timber-framed.and rendered; hipped roof, with old plaintiles to front range; a small rear wing at the right end is partly pantiled. 2 storeys. The long main range is in 2 structural sections, and has 2 matching internal chimney-stacks, each,with 4 attached hexagonal shafts of a rectangular base, well rebuilt. (Cf. a similar stack at Pitts Farmhouse, Honeypot Lane, Item 3/95). 5 upper windows, 4 3- light, and one 2-light above the porch; 4 3-light lower windows; all C20, metal casements, small panes. C19 enclosed and gabled porch with fluted bargeboards and spike finial, 4-panelled half-glazed entrance door with 2 single-light flanking windows. Pear Tree Cottage forms the left half of the front, and was under restoration at the time of survey. It appears to be the oldest part of the building, with a typical 3-cell internal-chimney plan. Fine framework exposed: 4 bays of irregular size, including a chimney-bay. Close studding with tension bracing to the end walls. The ground floor rooms to each side of the stack have ovolo-moulded main beams and roll-moulded joists. On the right the service end partition wall, formerly with 2 doorways, has been removed; the service bay has plain joists. Although the roof-space has not been used the upper ceilings appear original, with chamfer and curved stops to the main beams and joists set on edge. In the left gable end on both floors are the remains of original T-shaped windows: the short side lights with ovolo-moulded mullions survive, the central larger windows have been removed. The internal stack has 4 hearths: on the left ground floor with a shallow brick arch and rounded back to the fireplace, on the right with a plain timber lintel. Both upper fireplaces have arched openings of chamfered brick. Roof with butt purlins. Pear Tree Farmhouse forms the right hand half of the building. Some timbering said to be exposed inside, but access refused.

Listing NGR: TM0117873205