Higher Hendra Farmhouse

Farmhouse. Probably built in the mid to late 17th century and extended in 1717, as indicated by a datestone. It is constructed of stone rubble with a rag slate roof that has hipped ends and a cat-slide over a rear outshot. Brick shafts serve end stacks, and a brick stack is present on the rear outshot to the left.

The original plan likely comprised two rooms with end stacks and a central cross passage. Around the early 18th century, the house was partly remodelled internally, evidenced by early 18th-century plaster cornices, and was probably extended to the rear with an outshot to accommodate service rooms on both sides and a staircase behind the passage, resulting in a double-depth plan. The 1717 datestone on the front elevation likely relates to these alterations and extensions. The front elevation was partially remodelled around the mid-19th century.

The exterior has an irregular four-window front with straight joints and blocked openings. The front elevation likely originally featured a characteristic early 18th-century five-window design with 12-pane sashes and thick glazing bars. While the timber lintels remain, the openings were altered, probably in the mid-19th century. The ground floor has a wide three-light casement on the left and a double 16-pane hornless sash on the right. A mid-19th-century six-panel door is located in the centre, set within an open porch supported by granite posts with a slate hood. Four 12-pane sashes are on the first floor, alongside the datestone 'W.R.A. 1717'.

Inside, the passage features an early 18th-century moulded plaster cornice. A dado rail remains in the left-hand room, and an early 18th-century plaster cornice and rib ceiling moulding are present in the right-hand room. A thick wall, originally external, is located behind the front rooms. A mid-19th-century staircase has turned newels.

The roof is of fine quality, dating to the mid to late 17th century. The principals are halved, lap-jointed, and pegged at the apices to create almost flush joints. The collars are lapped and pegged onto the face of the principals and may have been added, replacing a tie-beam arrangement.

This is a particularly attractive house with interesting 18th and 19th-century alterations.