Buces

Buces is a manor farmhouse dating back to the 16th century, built in two phases. It was altered in the mid-19th century after a fire destroyed a section, likely the parlour cell; a brick on the left stack is inscribed 'RF 1862'. The house is timber-framed, with the façade and left gable end cased in white brick, the left gable end in red brick, and the rear rendered. The roof is covered in plain tiles. The building is a two-cell range, unusually wide (over 8 metres). It has two storeys and an attic and features three mid-20th century replacement sash windows with glazing bars set under segmental arches. A central gabled porch, contemporary with the facade, has ornamental bargeboards and an open entrance with a semi-circular arch; a mid-20th century door is set within. Gable stacks are present. To the right of the house is a tall screen wall of gault brick, with a former coach house behind. A 19th-century red brick wing extends to the rear.

Inside, the large two-bay hall has roll-moulded cross beams (one largely encased), joists, and a mid rail. The right bay has been altered by the insertion of a mid-19th century staircase, and only the floorbeam is visible. A partitioned area at the rear of the hall, in the left bay, has a simpler chamfer to its mid rail and bridging beam; the roll-moulded joists within this area are likely reused timbers from the destroyed parlour cell. The partition wall dividing this area is studded for only a third of its length, with similar treatment to the external wall, the reason for which is unexplained. The hall chamber retains good studding and evidence of original windows. The ceiling has a flat central tie beam with massive shallow braces, one of which is missing. A contemporary partition at the rear likely formed an access corridor. The upper floor of the right cell shows only timbers: heavy studs in the front wall, but no evidence of pegging. The attic floor has flat-set joists. The hall has a wind-braced butt purlin roof, while the roof over the right cell was reconstructed in the 18th century; both sections reused some sooted medieval rafters.