Taylor'S Farmhouse

Taylor’s Farmhouse is a large farmhouse, the main range of which is approximately 33 metres long. It dates to the early 16th century, or possibly earlier, with alterations and additions in the 17th century. The farmhouse is constructed of cob, rendered on a stone plinth, and has a hipped thatched roof. It is suggested that the building may have originally been a longhouse, with a shippon (animal shelter) to the left of a through passage, followed by a hall and other higher-end rooms under a taller roof ridge, and a 17th century back wing, likely a kitchen extension. There are two axial stacks, one external at the left-hand end, and an internal lateral stack to the rear wing. The farmhouse has two storeys throughout.

The front elevation has a main doorway positioned to the left of centre, with three windows to the left and three to the right at ground-floor level, and four windows above. All upper floor windows are set high, with six positioned under eyebrow eaves. Casement windows have been replaced everywhere except for one 1st floor window, which retains a 4-light design with oval moulded jambs and mullions. A newel stair-turret occupies the corner where the wing meets the main range at the rear. The lower-end rear elevation features a pantiled lean-to along its full extent.

The left-hand room, which may have originally been a shippon, has five heavy, rough, and unshaped beams. The through passage has concealed lath and plaster screens. Lath and plaster partitions separate the main rooms at the higher-end from a rear corridor. A fireplace, which has been altered, backs onto the passage, with the site of a former oven and smoking chamber now forming a blocked space measuring 3.3 metres. Right-hand rooms have heavily chamfered beams; one in the extreme right-hand end room has a central support and mortices indicating a former partition. Between the two axial stacks are three jointed crucks (two revealed, one ceiled), side-pegged. These, along with the raised 1st floor level, mark the location of the original open hall, which has a ceiled roof and is not accessible. The hall and lower-end also have rafters and bench purlins. A ground-floor room in the back wing has three heavily chamfered beams and an unchamfered fireplace lintel.