Mill Farmhouse

Mill Farmhouse is a mid-17th century farmhouse, possibly with earlier origins, located in Shenington with Alkerston. A bressumer is inscribed with the initials ‘MP’ and the date 1662. The roof was raised in the 18th or early 19th century. The farmhouse is constructed of coursed squared ironstone, with a 20th-century tile roof, three concrete end and ridge stacks on stone bases, and stone coped gables with moulded kneelers. It has a four-unit plan and a cellar.

The building has a six-window front. Four entrances are visible, including a blocked 4-centred doorway with hood mould and label stops on the left side; a renewed door to the hall with a wood lintel; a 4-centred arched doorway on the right with a renewed door, a hood mould with lozenge-shaped label stops and carved spandrels, and a further doorway to the right. The ground floor has two 4-light and three 2-light stone mullioned windows with hood moulds and label stops. A kitchen window on the left is of ovolo section, and a 4-light stone mullion of ovolo section is situated above the kitchen. The first floor windows include two 3-light and four 2-light stone mullioned windows, also with hood moulds and label stops. Most windows retain wrought-iron casement fasteners and springs. A 2-light stone mullioned window is present in the cellar. A continuous chamfered stone plinth runs along the base.

The right end of the building has three 2-light stone mullioned windows with hood moulds and label stops; two are blocked, and one window sits between the ground and first floors, likely illuminating a staircase, of which only part of the circular housing remains. The rear of the farmhouse, which faces the churchyard, contains a renewed 3-light wood casement within the opening of a window with hood mould and label stops; a 2-light stone mullioned window; a 3-light metal casement within a stone surround; and a 2-light stone mullioned window. Four fake blocked wood mullioned windows are visible in the attic.

The interior comprises a long, four-unit plan of kitchen, hall, parlour, and unheated room, with a cellar beneath. It features stop-chamfered beams; fireplaces with stop-chamfered wooden bressumers, or 4-centred arched stone fireplaces with moulded jambs; and a hall fireplace inscribed “1662 MP”. A 17th-century wood spiral staircase is located to the side of the hall fireplace, opposite one of the farmyard entrances. A 4-centred arched stone doorway is present in the passageway between the parlour and unheated room. The first floor also has a 4-centred arched stone fireplace. The roof is a 19th-century Queen post roof with side purlins. Other features include plank doors with strap hinges, panelled doors, windows with window seats, panelling, and stone flag floors. The roof replaced Welsh slate with 20th-century tiles. A 4-centred arched stone doorway with bar and brackets is located on the first floor.