The Old Weir

The Old Weir is a house with a complex history, dating from around 1350, with significant alterations in the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The building’s core is a full-cruck structure, built as a two-bay hall house, which was later extended to form an L-shaped plan with the addition of another two-bay hall and an outshut. The walls are timber-framed with brick infill, and largely brick in Flemish bond. The roof is thatched, with a rebuilt brick ridge stack.

The front elevation features a projecting timber-framed cross wing to the right. The entrance is situated in the angle between the two ranges, with a three-light segmental-arched casement window to the left, and a three-light dormer window above. A section of timber framing and a three-light casement window are visible to the left. Modern windows and brickwork are contained below a large hip roof. The left return wall displays old timbers but may be a reconstruction. The front gable wall to the projecting range has three-light casements on both floors, and a medieval cruck-framed gable with triangular infill pieces under the verge; the lower framing is probably from the 16th century. The rear of the building is predominantly brick, featuring segmental-arched casement windows. All windows have leaded glazing, with some original glass.

Inside, the main range contains three pairs of massive crocks tenoned into yokes, accompanied by a ridge purlin and curved windbraces. The left bay may have originally been a cross passage. The central tie beam has broach chamfer stops and long slots in the soffit at each end, possibly to receive solid spandrels or a spere screen. A large inserted stack features an open fireplace, and is contemporary with early 17th century stop-chamfered joists and a spine beam. An altered service bay, under the hip roof, has radiating rafters and may also be medieval. The ridge purlin of the main range is supported from the ridge of the projecting range, which may be slightly earlier but has a similar central crock truss; remnants of the front cruck blades remain in the gable. The rear gable wall has been rebuilt. The lower ridge purlin showcases an edge-halved scarf joint with square abutments and two face pegs on a diagonal line. Only two windbraces remain. Both ranges have smoke-blackened rafters. A rear bay of the cross range has a large chamfered cross beam and heavy joists with bare-faced soffit tenons, which are possibly 14th century, and may be an original feature or a later insertion. The front bay contains a spine beam and joists with soffit tenons and diminished haunches, likely 16th century and contemporary with the wall framing. A section of medieval framed wall remains between the two ranges. Modern extensions to the rear are not of architectural significance.