The Old Weir

HORTON CUM STUDLEY BRILL ROAD SP61SW (East side) Studley 8/54 The Old Weir - II* House. c.1350, c.1400, altered C16, early C17 and C18. Full-cruck structure; walls: timber-framed with brick infill, and brick in Flemish bond; thatch roof with rebuilt brick ridge stack. 2-bay hall house extended to L-plan by addition of 2-bay hall with later end outshut. One storey plus attic. Front has projecting timber-framed cross wing to right, and has entrance in angle with a 3-light segmental-arched casement to left and a 3-light dormer above. Bay to left has some framing and a 3-light casement. C20 windows and walling beyond, in a single-storey section, are contained below a large hip, The left return wall has old timbers but may be a reconstruction. Front gable wall of projecting range has 3-light casement to both floors and has a medieval cruck-framed gable with triangular infill pieces under the verge; the lower framing is probably C16. Rear is mostly brick with segmental-arched casements. All windows have leaded glazing, some old. Roof has a central stack on the higher main range. Interior: main range has 3 pairs of massive crocks tenoned into yokes, with a ridge purlin and large curved windbraces; the left bay is much narrower and may have formed 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. Large inserted stack has an open fireplace and is contemporary with early C17 stop-chamfered joists and spine beam. Altered service bay under large hip has radiating rafters and may also be medieval. Ridge purlin of main range is propped from the ridge of the projecting range which may be slightly earlier but has a similar central crock truss; the top half of the front cruck blades survive in the gable but the rear gable wall has been rebuilt. The lower ridge purlin has an edge-halved scarf joint with square abutments and 2 face pegs on a diagonal line. Only 2 windbraces survive. Both ranges have smoke-blackened rafters. Rear bay of cross range has a large chamfered cross beam and heavy joists with bare-faced soffit tenons, which are possibly C14 and may be an early insertion or an original sleeping loft. Front bay has spine beam and joists with soffit tenons with diminished haunches, possibly C16 and contemporary with the wall framing. A section of medieval framed wall survives between the ranges. C20 extensions to rear are not of special architectural interest. (Information from Mr. John Steane, Oxfordshire Museums Service)

Listing NGR: SP6022612555