Paradise Farmhouse

WORLINGWORTH SHOP STREET Paradise Farmhouse 5/125 - II Farmhouse. In 2 parts: rear wing c.1400 with one-bay C16 addition; early C19 front, extended in late C19, at right angles to the rear to form a T-shape plan. Front block of red brick with glazed black pantiled roof. 2 storeys. 3 bays with a 4th bay added to the right. Pilaster strips to quoins. Early C19 work has flush-frame sashes with glazing bars under segmental arches; central doorway with 6-panel door (upper 2 panels glazed), panelled reveals, architrave with ropework fluting and a cornice. Later bay has narrower sash windows. Rear wing is timber framed and plastered with glazed black pantiled roof. 1½ storeys. Mainly C19 casement windows, with one gabled dormer facing south. Internal stack. Lean-to on north side. Interior. Rear wing comprises a 2-bay former open hall of raised-aisle form together with the solar bay (into which the stack has been inserted) and a one-bay addition beyond. The open truss has slightly jowled arcade-posts, chamfered on their inner faces; there are heavy but not solid arched braces to the arcade plates and similar braces to the tie beam, meeting at the centre. Side ties from each arcade- post to the wallplate. The tie beam carried a king-post; this, and the ridge piece to which it was braced, are now missing but the medieval rafters are intact. The bridging beam carrying the arcade-posts was supported by buttress-shafted wallposts with moulded caps: one survives in mutilated form. Other work of c.1400 includes a moulded dais beam, remains of one hall window and some studding visible mainly on the uppper floor. The hall windows are unusually close to the upper end wall; this, combined with the absence of peg holes for studding below the dais beam, suggests a possible internal jetty over the dais. Evidence for 2 additional tie beams at the lower end of the hall. Inserted floor has chamfered joists, morticed into original bridging beam. In former outside wall of hall is a C16 window of 5 lights with cavetto mullions and C17 diamond-leaded glass: this near-complete early glass is a rare survival. Newel stair by stack. Front block has early C19 well stair with stick balusters, ramped and wreathed handrail and carved tread-ends.

Listing NGR: TM2167868710