Common Farmhouse

LITTLE FARINGDON A361 (East side) SP20SW 1/123 Common Farmhouse 12.9.55 GV II

Farmhouse, now house. Late C16, extended mid-C18 with later additions and alterations. Uncoursed limestone rubble with alternating angle quoins (of well-dressed ashlar to C18 part); stone slate roofs. Earliest part is gabled range aligned roughly east-west with C18 addition at right-angles to north on west; C19 and C20 additions at right-angles to south. 2 storeys and attic. East gable end has 4-, formerly 5-light mullion windows with right lights infilled and dripstone reassembled; 3-light mullion window with segmental-headed lights, iron bars and dripstone off-centre to first floor and small square chamfered window to attic. Right return has prominent external stepped stack with moulded dripstone and brick capping; semi-circular corbelled projection attached to left on first floor. Also to left a small chamfered window with leaded lights directly below eaves and a 2-light mullion window to ground floor with right termination of dripstone cutting into stack. Left return has infilled doorway to left and 2-light mullion window with dripstone to right. West gable end has 2 glazing bar sashes to ground floor, left C20 and in position of infilled doorway. First floor has glazing bar sash in similar surround to those of C18 part with infilled window to right. 2 sloping buttresses are C20. C18 addition has glazing bar sash in plain stone surround with projecting keystone on each floor to both sides and C20 gabled dormer in roof slope to same line. Integral end stack to right with dripstone, top rebuilt in C20 red brick. Outline of former roof pitch of demolished stables visible below. C19 part has 2 casements with continuous directly below eaves to east side with 3-light window to lower left and ledged door with cambered head to right. Interior. C16 part has ground-floor rooms knocked into one. 3 deep-chamfered cross beans and chamfered joists with stepped ogee stops. Chamfered stone fireplace and similar fireplace to first floor. Ground-floor room of C18 part has moulded plaster cornice and spine beam. Inset panelled wall cupboards to either side of fireplace, right with scalloped niche and carved shelves. Stone-flag floors to ground floor throughout. C18 part has collar truss roof with principal rafters rising from wall tops. Roof structure of C16 part not visible at tine of resurvey (May 1987). [2428]

Listing NGR: SP2219001253