The Orchard House

GOSBECK IPSWICH ROAD TM 15 SE 7/62 The Orchard House

• II

House, c.1520-1550 with alterations of c.1930. 1 storey and attics. 3 cell plan. Timber-framed and plastered; external walling largely rebuilt c.1930 in plastered brick. Thatched roof, half-hipped at right hand end, with one long C20 eyebrow casement dormer. Axial and gable chimneys; rebuilt shafts of C20 painted brick. C20 metal casements. Open C20 plaintiled entrance porch with boarded door. A rare example of a late-mediaeval house with a central smoke- bay: to right is a 2-bay parlour with massive unchamfered floor joists; at the centre is a 2-bay hall whose upper bay was open and contained an open hearth which leaves smoke encrustation. The service cell to left has a loft which formerly extended over part of the hall, with just a subdividing open truss. Coupled-rafter roof, formerly also hipped at the service end. An upper floor was inserted in the smoke-bay, with unchamfered joists and a chimney with back-to-back fireplaces, in late C16 or early C17.

Listing NGR: TM1538254839