Hatherland Farmhouse

Farmhouse. It likely dates back to the 17th century or earlier, and underwent substantial remodelling and partial rebuilding after a collapse in the 1970s. The construction is a mix of whitewashed rendered cob and stone rubble, with a bitumen-painted slate roof that is gabled at the ends. There are lateral stacks on the front and rear. The original layout is now obscured by alterations, but the earlier part of the house appears to have been a single-depth block, originally two rooms wide on the left side (a cross wall was removed in the 1970s), with a later block to the right and a rear wing on the right side. Historical records suggest an earlier chapel may have been present as late as 1554. It seems to have comprised a hall to the right of the original layout and a parlour to the left, with a 17th-century staircase in a shallow turret opposite the front stack. The lower end, to the right, has probably been demolished. The original main entrance is unclear; the current entrance is through a lean-to against the centre of the front wall. Following the 1970s collapse, parts of the house have been reconstructed, and internal features have been moved and altered. The front and left-end walls have been rebuilt. The exterior presents an asymmetrical three-window front, with a stack to the left, a 20th-century lean-to in the centre, and a stair projection to the right. The entrance is through a 20th-century door within the lean-to. A three-light timber mullioned window has been re-sited within a section of wall creating the porch. Other windows are 20th-century replacements. Internally, the two rooms of the earlier block have been combined by removing a cob cross wall. A bench, originally against the cob wall in the right-hand room, has been re-positioned against the left end wall. This bench features an exceptional, tall shaped end, a panelled back, and a frieze of scallop carving. The right-hand room of the original block has an open fireplace, with good jambs, a deeply chamfered cross beam with bar scroll stops, and exposed joists. The 17th-century staircase has slim turned balusters, square newels with finials. The left-hand room has a 20th-century fireplace and chamfered ceiling beams with pyramid stops and exposed joists. A cambered timber lintel from a first-floor fireplace has been re-used as a ground-floor doorframe lintel. Several 17th-century doors have been re-sited on the first floor. One 17th-century roof truss with matching rafters survives above the parlour under 20th-century roof timbers. Despite the alterations, the house retains notable interior features.