Retaining Wall 40M North West Of Woodlands Farm House

This is a retaining wall located 40 meters northwest of Woodlands Farmhouse. It dates from the early 16th century or earlier, with alterations made around 1710 and in the 19th century. The wall is constructed from large squared stone blocks arranged in courses, and it has been raised with thin red bricks laid in English bond from the 18th century, as well as larger bricks laid in Flemish bond from the 19th century. The wall extends south towards the west wall of the north block of the house and east in line with the north end of Woodlands Farmhouse. It likely originated as the northwest corner of a range that was parallel to the present farmhouse, which may have been part of the same building as the north part of the adjacent structure, but the different materials suggest it might have an even earlier origin. The raising around 1710, determined by comparisons with other buildings on the site, is probably linked to the reconstruction of an early range that served as one of two office ranges flanking the approach to the main house around that time; this was demolished by around 1840, after which the remaining structure has functioned as a retaining wall. The wall features two offset foundation courses that return eastward parallel to the slope of the ground, meeting a level square offset that defines a plinth on the west side.