Venn'S Farmhouse And Adjoining Farmbuildings To South-West

Venn's Farmhouse and the adjoining farm buildings to the south-west are a farmhouse complex likely dating from the 17th century, with alterations and additions from the 18th and 19th centuries. The farmhouse is constructed of roughcast cob, except for the front wall which is made of brick, and features a thatched gabled end roof. The adjoining farm buildings are made of unrendered cob on stone footings, with a hipped thatched roof and a gabled-end slate roof.

Originally, the farmhouse had a three-room layout, possibly with a cross passage, as there is no door directly opposite the front door. The hall and inner room are located to the right, while the service end is to the left. A late 18th-century wing extends from the rear of the service end, replacing an earlier rear room, which is indicated by its unusual alignment at an oblique angle to the main house. The service room is heated by an internal end stack, while the hall has an external rear lateral stack. The inner room is unheated, and the rear wing includes an internal fireplace with a bake oven set in one of the rear corners. All stacks have brick shafts.

The farmhouse is two storeys tall. The front features a 19th-century brick refacing and has a regular five-window arrangement. The first floor includes 19th-century three-light casement windows with lintels at eaves level. There is a lean-to tiled canopy over the doorway, with one three-light casement window to the left and three to the right, all featuring segmental window arches. A brick, thatched lean-to is attached to the left end, which has a small two-light casement window in the gable wall.

The farm buildings are positioned in front of the farmhouse and extend to the right along Sowton Lane. A tall cob barn stands end-on to the road, with only one small ground floor opening. Attached to this barn is a lower cob barn that has a wagon entrance to the farmstead on the left, all covered by a continuous slate roof.