Hononton Farmhouse

Hononton Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with a slightly earlier wing. It is constructed using framed timber on sandstone rubble footings. The front elevation is tile-hung and partly underbuilt in brick, with a peg-tile roof and brick stacks.

The main block follows a three-room lobby entrance plan, with the two northern rooms heated by back-to-back fireplaces contained within an axial stack. A kitchen wing is set at a right angle to the left (north-east), comprising a single room heated by an end stack, and an outshut extends across its east end. This wing is separately framed and may be slightly later than the main block.

The asymmetrical front elevation has four windows. A 20th-century gabled porch with a panelled door stands to the left of centre. The front elevation has been underbuilt in brick to first-floor level to the left of the porch. There are 20th-century three-light iron-framed casement windows, and a one-light window above the porch. The roof of the main block is hipped at the left end where it adjoins the wing, and gabled at the right end. An axial stack features staggered triple shafts, and a projecting stack stands at the right (south) end. The left (north) return has 20th-century casements and a door leading into the kitchen wing. The rear (east) elevation retains its wall framing to the footings including large curved tension braces above the middle rail, present on both the main block and the inner return of the wing. Steps lead up to a 19th-century plank door at the south end of the main block. The rear elevation also features two first-floor, two-light casements; one ground floor window matches those on the front elevation and one first-floor window has a quadrant catch. The inner return of the wing also preserves its wall framing, including timbers of slightly larger dimensions, and a narrow smoke bay at the right (east) end. The wing includes a probable 19th-century plank and cover strip door, a tiled pentice extending across the front elevation, and a late 20th-century casement window. A large, semi-circular bread oven projects at the right (east) end.

The interior retains exposed carpentry, including axial ceiling beams in the main block with step stops, and exposed joists. The central room’s fireplace is open with brick jambs and an original lintel. An iron spit contraption, likely 19th century, is fixed to the fireplace lintel. An iron mechanism of unknown function is also fixed to the axial beam, designed to revolve a weight with a hook. The rear wing presents exposed carpentry and a large fireplace replacing a smoke bay.

The roof was not inspected, but original timbers, including those of the smoke bay are said to remain.