Sycamore House

BRAMFORD SOMERSHAM ROAD TM 14 NW 7/84 Sycamore House 9.12.55 - II Farmhouse. C15 with alterations of C16 and later. A substantial H-plan open hall house. 2 storeys. Timber-framed and plastered; areas of C18 or early C19 herringbone pargetting. Plaintiled roofs with several red brick chimneys of C16 and later; a late Cl6 external stack against the parlour cross-wing to left has a pair of diagonally-set square shafts. Various windows mostly of early C19: a small-paned sash in the parlour, several casements with mullions and transomes (one being a splayed bay with hinged boarded shutters). Two entrance doorways, the main one at left having an early C19 cornice on pilasters, a 2-panelled door and C20 open lean-to porch. The secondary entrance has an early C19 6-panelled door. The right hand cross-wing may be earliest; it is jettied at 1st floor and has widely-spaced tension-braced studwork of early C15 type. The hall range has massive C15 close-scudding. Alterations of c.1600 included inserting an upper floor into the hall, raising che walls and rebuilding all roofs with many of the original smoke-blackened hall rafters. The staircase has early C17 balustrading with a turned newel and balusters. A dairy-bakehouse range was added to right in mid/late C16 with massive plain upper floor and arch-braced close-studwork. An original mullioned window has its sliding shutter in place. Clasped-purlin roof.

Listing NGR: TM1104747912