Giffords

SS 92 SE BAMPTON

6/12 Giffords

16.10.75 II

Farmhouse. Circa early C16 origins, remodelled in the early C17, rear wing possibly C18. Colourwashed rendered stone rubble; thatched roof, gabled at ends and half- hipped at end of wing; single-storey rear right lean-to with wooden shingle roof ; end stacks and axial stack to main range. Plan: The present plan is a 3 room and through passage arrangement to the main range, lower end to the right, hall stack backing on to passage, heated inner room ; unheated rear left wing, rear right lean-to. The origins of the house are an early C16 open hall although the evolution of the building is not entirely clear : but the roof timbers are sooted above the lower end only, suggesting either that the hall has been rebuilt in the late C16, although it was probably originally. The unheated rear wing may be an C18 dairy or buttery ; the rear lean-to, probably a late C19 dairy, has been converted to a kitchen. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4 window front with a front door to the passage to right of centre and 3, 4 and 5-light casement windows glazed with square leaded panes, embrasurers possibly original. On the right return a thatched curing chamber projection adjoins the right end stack. Interior: Good survival of C17 carpentry and joinery. The lower end room has deeply- chamfered step-stopped cross beams and an open fireplace with a chamfered lintel, stone jambs and a C19 bread oven. The hall has moulded step-stopped cross beams and an open fireplace with a chamfered lintel ; good 2 plank C16 or C17 cupboard door on rear wall. Ovolo-moulded stopped cross beam to inner room which has a rebuilt fireplace and introduced C17 panelling. Original doorframes to rear of passage, rear door of lower end room and door from passage to lower end room, which has a cranked head ; similar doorway on first floor. First floor room left is heated with a C17 lintel to the fireplace ; C18 cupboard door adjacent to fireplace. The smoking chamber adjacent to the stack has a stone first floor and preserves old hooks and sooted timbers in a cupboard adjacent to the stack on the first floor. Roof: Cruck construction. The side-pegged jointed cruck truss over the hall is not smoke-blackened. The truss over the lower end/passage partition appears to be a full cruck (collar missing) and is lightly sooted on the lower end side; slight smoke- staining over the passage could be the result of leaking through the closed truss. Collar rafter truss over inner room. There is said to have formerly been a smoke- hole in the thatch. A traditional house with good quality interior carpentry and joinery.

Listing NGR: SS9917621605