Moat Farmhouse

Moat Farmhouse

Farmhouse of late mediaeval origin, probably formerly larger, with a wing to the left and porch dating from the 15th century, followed by later alterations and additions from the 17th and 19th centuries. The building is constructed of rubble with render and limestone dressings. It has double Roman tiled roofs with raised coped verges and stone gable stacks, with a ridge stack to the right of the porch; some sections have pantiles instead.

The building has an irregular plan and contains evidence of a former through passage. The front elevation is of 2 storeys and 4 bays. From the left, a projecting wing features a blocked pointed arched window with limestone surround at first floor level, with a stack projecting at ground floor. On the inner side of the wing at ground floor is a 20th-century 2-light casement window with part of a hood mould remaining from an earlier window. To the right of this is half of a 4-centred arched door architrave, which has been blocked by the second bay. At first floor level is a 3-light 19th-century casement under the eaves. The walls are battered. The second bay contains 3-light 20th-century casements at both ground and first floor levels.

The third bay is formed by a 2-storey gabled porch with a large 4-centred arched opening. The surround has 2 chamfered orders and a stopped hood mould. Inside the porch are benches to each side, a blocked window to the left, and a triangular-headed door in a moulded surround with quatrefoils carved in the spandrels. The fourth bay has a lower roof ridge with a pantiled catslide roof to the front and a small 20th-century light under the eaves. Attached to the right and projecting is a single-storey outhouse, not rendered, with a pantiled roof, door, and 4-pane light.

The left return of the wing has a central blocked large 4-centred arched chamfered opening with a buttress on each side and 20th-century repair work to the lintel. A 3-light pointed arched window with cusped trefoil heads and chamfered mullions has been inserted into a blocked doorway. To the left is a small blocked pointed arched window, possibly a former stair light, with a buttress and blocked rectangular window nearby. At first floor are two 3-light casements under the eaves, one of 19th-century wood construction to the left, the other with chamfered stone mullions to the right. The rear of the wing has a low buttress, a segmental-headed door, a small 2-light window, and a small single light in a moulded frame at first floor level.

The rear of the central 2 bays shows, from left to right, a former rear passage door with a 3-pane light inserted and 20th-century timber lintel, with a buttress to the left and a 19th-century 2-light casement at first floor. A central narrow gabled wing with stack is followed by a single-storey lean-to with a 3-light cusped trefoil-headed window above. The rear of the lower wing contains a 4-pane 19th-century sash window. The right return, not rendered, has a 20th-century 2-light casement in the gable end and a door to the left. An attached outhouse has a catslide roof, a 2-light casement under the eaves, and 2 gable ends to the front.

Interior: The ground floor front room in the wing to the left formerly had a framed ceiling in 4 panels, of which one cambered moulded beam remains. A stone fireplace with a cambered moulded head is in the end wall. The cusped window has repaired chamfered mullions. The external walls are approximately 1 metre thick. A winder stair is located to the rear of the wing. At first floor, the inner wall has stone panels with blank shields, a coved cornice, and principal roof members rising from corbels. Four bays of roof are visible, comprising tie-beams, arched-braces, cambered collars, 2 rows of purlins, and one remaining windbrace. The central bays at ground floor have deep-chamfered beams with bar and run-out stops. The room to the right of the passage has narrow-chamfered beams with run-out stops.