Kersworthy Farmhouse And Adjoining Outbuildings And Garden Wall

A farmhouse, with adjoining outbuildings and a garden wall, dating probably to the late 16th or early 17th century, with 18th and 19th century additions. The farmhouse is constructed of rendered stone rubble and cob, with a slate roof, gable ends, and brick shafts to the lateral and end stacks. The original layout remains uncertain, but it appears to have an ‘H’ shaped plan as the ground rises to the right. One possibility is that the original core is the central range, flanked by two later two-room cross wings. Alternatively, the house may have been of a ‘T’ shape.

As it stands, the house comprises a central two-room range with a likely earlier entrance on the right, leading to a passage with a rear staircase; a kitchen is centrally located, with an axial stack at the lower end on the left, and a second entrance to the left, opening into a large stair hall. The cross wing on the higher end to the right has two rooms, the front heated by a removed side lateral stack and the rear by a truncated projecting end stack. The lower cross wing on the left appears to be of 19th-century character, comprising two rooms heated by truncated side lateral stacks. This wing may be a 19th century extension, rebuild, remodelling or refacing of the earlier range.

Rear extensions include 18th, 19th, and 20th century additions. A circa 18th century cob two-storey outbuilding is attached to the rear right of the right-hand cross wing, and a small two-story outbuilding is attached to the rear entrance. This may be a 19th century service building used as a back kitchen, bake house or boiler house, or it could possibly have earlier origins.

The front elevation features a 1:2:1 window arrangement. A 19th-century panelled door is located off-centre to the left, with a late 18th or 19th century panelled door to the right, alongside a late 18th or early 19th century four-light casement window near the centre. Late 19th-century 16-pane sashes are present in the cross wings, some of which have blocked openings. The garden wall to the right is constructed of cob with a slate cap. The interior is not accessible, but it is thought that an inspection may reveal interesting features and help to more accurately date the building. The owner reports some fireplaces have been partly blocked, the kitchen ceiling beams are chamfered, and the roof timbers appear to have been replaced.