Higher Pempwell

Higher Pempwell is a farmhouse, now a house, dating from the early to mid-17th century, with extensions in the 18th century and later alterations. It is constructed of roughly coursed slate-stone with granite quoins, with roughcast to the front, and has slate roofs with ceramic cresting to the main range. The earliest part is the left section of the main range, which was extended or rebuilt to the right of the ridge stack in the 18th century – a straight joint is visible to the rear. A projecting range, at right angles to the left, is also an 18th-century addition, forming a present L-plan. The house has two storeys. The main range has three late 20th-century casement windows directly below the eaves, and to the ground floor centre and left. A 20th-century door is located to the right. A ridge stack, with a rendered base and red brick shaft, sits between the centre and right windows and a similar external end stack is on the right. A prominent stepped external lateral stack is at the left end, on the roadside. The projecting range, formerly a smithy, has a stack similar to those of the main range at the junction, and a wide infilled opening on the roadside. Single-storey and two-storey lean-tos extend to the rear of the main range. Inside, the most notable feature of the left ground-floor room is three chamfered cross beams with run-out stops, and moulded joists with stepped stops. This room also has an open fireplace with a large chamfered granite lintel and a clom oven to the left. Remains of a forge are in the corner of the projecting range. The roof of the main range was rebuilt in the 19th century, while the roof of the projecting range was re-roofed around 1920, although evidence of two earlier roof lines remains visible.