Aldridge'S Farmhouse

Farmhouse. Dating from the first half of the 14th century, the property has undergone alterations in the 16th-17th, 19th and 20th centuries. It is timber framed, with a plastered front elevation, while the rest of the building is roughcast-rendered or red brick. The roof is covered in glazed black pantiles. The farmhouse was originally an open hall house of raised-aisle form with a storied solar and service ends. It now has four windows, featuring mid-20th century large-paned casements, and three canted ground floor bays. A 20th-century gabled porch with a half-glazed door has been added.

The raised-aisle structure remains largely intact, featuring octagonal queen posts, originally with moulded capitals, arched-braced to tie beams and arcade plates. Evidence of side ties extends from each queen post to the top plate. A tie beam above the open truss supports an octagonal crown post with a boldly roll-moulded capital and base, a splayed head and foot, and is arch-braced to a surviving collar purlin; evidence also shows bracing to the collar. Additional tie beams are present each side of the open truss, along with two tie beams over the cross-passage. The lower parts of some rafters also remain. The remainder of the roof was lost when the house was raised, likely in the 19th century, and the current roof dates to the mid-20th century.

Original wall structure is visible, predominantly in the hall. Features include widely-spaced studs and a top rail with a stop-splayed scarf joint, 1 meter long. Parts of both end walls of the hall remain, including the original plastered gable at the lower end, all with heavy plain studding. Evidence exists for an original hall window and cross-passage doorways. In the 16th century, a stack was inserted into the upper end of the hall. A 16th-century ceiling was introduced, incorporating an additional bridging beam at a right angle to the original arch-braced beam, along with chamfered joists. There is also a 17th-century parlour ceiling. Some good panelling, dating back to around 1600, is found in the cross-passage; it is reportedly from a different location. This is the oldest house in the parish. A medieval moat remains nearby.