Withycombe Farmhouse And Attached Stable

The farmhouse, with an attached stable, dates from the early to mid 17th century, with later alterations. It is situated on the south side of Drayton Stratford Road. The building is constructed of ironstone ashlar on the right-hand side and squared coursed ironstone on the left. The roof is steeply pitched, covered in 20th-century tiles, with coped stone gables. Stone ridge and end stacks are present, with renewed brick shafts to the end stacks. The farmhouse has a three-unit plan and two storeys plus attics and cellars, with a five-window front. The right-hand part has a central entrance with a 20th-century door in a stone architrave. This entrance is flanked by pairs of two-light flat-faced mullioned windows with metal casements and wrought-iron fasteners. The first floor has five similar two-light windows with wood casements, while the left-hand part features two-light 20th-century windows. There are three hipped roof dormers. The rear elevation includes three entrances, one of which is a blocked doorway with a wood lintel. A moulded stone eaves cornice is present.

Interior features include an inglenook with a chamfered bressumer, chamfered beams, and a straight flight staircase with a winder. The splat balusters of the staircase have heart-shaped decoration. Original wide plank doors remain, and the roof structure consists of butt purlins pegged at the apex.

The attached stable dates from the 18th century and is constructed of coursed, squared ironstone rubble with a corrugated iron roof and coped stone gables. It is a single-story, three-bay structure. Two stable doors have wood lintels, and there are two windows with slats and wood lintels.

Historical records indicate that Withycombe was settled in 1653 on Lord Saye and Sele’s (of Broughton Castle) third son, John Fiennes, and his wife Susannah, and the house was reportedly part of Susannah’s dowry.