Layers Breck Farmhouse

TL 96 SW ROUGHAM BLACKTHORPE

5/37 Layers Breck Farmhouse - 21.2.72 II*

Former farmhouse. C15: a Wealden house, with a contemporary rear wing. The storied upper end of the main range is now missing. Part 2 storeys, with later cellar below, part 2 storeys and attics. 3 bays to front range, 2 bays to rear. Timber-framed, with the timbers exposed on most of the front; the remainder rendered. Roofs with pantiles, some black-glazed. An end chimney- stack to each range, that to the main range with 4 hexagonal shafts with attached heads on a plain rectangular base. 2 fireplaces on the external wall indicate the position of the missing storied end: both hearths have rounded backs and arched surrounds, on the upper storey plastered and ovolo-moulded. C20 casement windows in a variety of styles; part of one diamond-mullioned upper window exposed on the right side of the front. The wide doorway has shallow arched spandrels; empty mortices above and to each side of the surround indicate a former original porch (cf. similar evidence at The Little Hall, Market Place, Lavenham). This doorway, with a corresponding doorway on the back wall, made a cross-passage entry to the former 2-bay open hall, divided from the hall by a screen with a wide central opening; this is still in situ, but infilled by later panelling. Crown-post roof, with a very fine open truss: chamfered posts, and a cambered tie-beam with hollow-chamfer moulding; heavy arched braces terminating in carved capitals, both different; a tall octagonal crown-post, moulded at cap and base and braced 4 ways at the head: one brace missing. The front wall of the upper hall bay was pushed forward to the line of the outer wallplate in the late C16; the inserted hall beam of the same date has a plain chamfer and curved stops, and the hearth a plain timber lintel. On the other side of the cross-passage, the doors for the 2 service rooms, with arched heads, and the doorway to the stair, are all in situ. The rear wing has an original arched doorway and window, and seems to have had a separate cross-entry against the rear wall of the main range. Access to the main house was only on the upper storey. The wing has an exposed ceiling with heavy cross-beams, and a large open fireplace replacing a former smoke-bay. The timbering throughout the house is of very good quality.

Listing NGR: TL9011563184