Yarde Farmhouse

Yarde Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating from the late 16th century or 17th century, with early 19th century and 20th century additions and alterations. The building is partly constructed of plastered cob and partly of unrendered brick, all resting on stone footings, and features a thatched roof. The gabled end of the wing has a catslide roof over a 20th century extension. Originally, the farmhouse had a three-room, through-passage plan, with the lower end wing rebuilt in brick in the early 19th century. The lower end was originally heated by a rear lateral stack, while the parlour was heated by an end stack, both of which have been dismantled. The hall was heated by a rear external lateral stack with a brick shaft and set-offs, and there is an all-brick external end stack to the wing.

The farmhouse is two storeys high. The front features 20th century windows in the original cob section, which is supported by a single buttress. The gable end of the wing to the right has no windows on this elevation, but the early 19th century brickwork extends one bay along the main range, with one 12-pane hornless sash window on each floor. The roof ridge rises steeply to meet the higher level of the wing. The rear includes a stair turret to the right of the external stack, with 19th and 20th century casement windows and sash windows in the early 19th century extension. The right-hand side of the early 19th century cross-wing has a symmetrical early 19th century brick front with a two-window range and a modillion cornice, featuring tripartite sash windows with unhorned 4:12:4 panes, some of which have crown glass.

Inside, there are chamfered lintels above the hall and parlour fireplaces, and screens may survive between the hall and parlour, as well as between the hall and through-passage. The parlour chamber has a simple-moulded plaster cornice, and there are three planked doors leading to the upper rooms, each with chamfered door-frames and moulded bases, which appear to date from the 16th century. One jointed cruck is visible in the upper room, and the roof is clean with trusses that are halved, crossed, and pegged at the apex, with collars that are halved and pegged. A three-light chamfered window survives in the roof space but now abuts the parlour end stack, and its original function is unclear.