The Old House

The Old House is a house located on Prinstead Lane in Southbourne. It is possibly a 14th-century aisled house that was converted into a lobby entrance house in the early 17th century and was refenestrated in the 19th century. The building is timber-framed, with the frame, including a midrail and curved braces, visible on the outside, set on a painted stone plinth. It features painted brick infill and has a steeply pitched hipped thatched roof with off-central and end brick stacks. The house has one storey and attics, with three windows and gabled dormers. The 19th-century casements are present, except for an early 17th-century mullion window on the north side and a 20th-century doorcase. The north bay has square-section joists on the ground floor. The central bay, which was formerly an open hall, includes an open fireplace with a bressumer, a salt niche, and a spine beam with a 2-inch chamfer and lambstongue stop. There is a 19th-century winder stair. The first floor features a chamfered crown post with two head braces, one of which is missing, and an arched braced tie beam. The rafters are sans-purlin, indicating a 14th-century date. The ground floor has a sawn-off passing brace, suggesting it was originally an aisled hall. The south bay has been partially restored following a fire.