Ashstead Farmhouse Including Attached Outbuildings And Garden Wall

Ashstead Farmhouse is a house of farmhouse origin, built in phases from the 17th century onwards. It comprises a C17 two-bay wing to the east, a 1732 three-bay parlour wing added to the west, and a c1900 wing added to the south. The building is constructed of Bargate stone rubble with brick dressings and ironstone galleting, beneath a tiled roof with brick chimneystacks. It is two storeys with attics and has irregular fenestration.

The west front displays three windows to the C18 wing, with two gabled C19 dormers in the attics. Early C19 12-pane sashes are present below, with a wide doorcase containing a 6-panelled door, the four upper panels glazed. The projecting c1900 wing to the south has a half-hipped roof, two 12-pane sashes to the first floor and French windows to the ground floor. The upper floor of this wing is tile-hung. The north front of the C17 east wing retains a tiled C19 bathroom projection on the first floor, along with one sash and one casement window and a cambered brick doorcase. The south side of the C17 wing has a tile-hung first floor with two sash windows and a C20 Bargate stone extension.

Internally, the C17 wing retains a ground floor beam, probably reused, and its timber-framed western gable is visible. The original roof structure survives intact with two bays, original pegged rafters, clasped purlins and queenposts. The 1732 wing contains a cellar with an original brick half-winder staircase, three lantern niches, and a spine beam with a one-inch chamfer. The Lounge also has a spine beam with one-inch chamfer and displays an early C18 stone fireplace with Gibbs surround, bead and reel decoration and keystone with acanthus leaf. The southern end of this room, originally separate, retains a cambered brick fireplace, though this was covered by a radiator at the time of inspection. A late C19 staircase rises to the first floor, which contains an C18 timber-framed internal partition with a jowled post of curved profile. Four two-panelled doors survive, two with original L-hinges. Several bedrooms retain C19 firegrates. The eastern wall of the attic displays an oval slate plaque dated 1732, with an original three-plank door below featuring L-hinges. The attic also contains a small section of panelling, an 8-panelled door with deep fielding, and a three-plank door. The C18 roof structure of principal rafters, purlins and collars remains intact.

Attached to the north side of the C18 wing is a contemporary brewhouse, washhouse and dairy of one storey, built mainly of Bargate stone. The south side is timber-framed and clad in original weatherboarding, beneath a tiled roof. Internally, the wall-framing is exposed with midrail and diagonal braces, a small fireplace, plank doors, and three steps down to an outshot with brick counter. The floor is brick-paved.

Also attached to Ashstead Farmhouse is a Bargate stone garden wall with brick dressings, incorporating an C18 Bargate stone outbuilding beneath a tiled roof, with a C19 brick second storey at the west end, possibly used as an apple store.