North Esworthy Farmhouse

SS 82 SE OAKFORD

4/139 North Esworthy Farmhouse -

II

Farmhouse. Circa early C17 with some C18 remodelling or extension and early C19 alterations. Whitewashed rendered stone and cob; slate roof (formerly thatched), hipped at ends; axial stack, projecting front lateral stack. Plan: Single-depth main range 4 rooms wide with a single-storey rear lean-to and a 1- room plan rear left wing at right angles to the main range. The historic plan is not entirely clear: the 3 right hand rooms are evidently early C17. and opposed doors suggest the possibility of a former cross passage which would indicate lower end/kitchen to left and hall and unheated inner room to the right. However, this would mean a very small hall. The left hand room could be an addition of the early C18: it is heated by the axial stack but the date of this back to back arrangement is unclear. The rear wing and lean-to containing service rooms are probably both C18 additions. The present entrance is into the rear wing, early C19 entrances on the front, facing the garden. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4 window front with a projecting front lateral stack to the right of centre with an early C19 glazed verandah to the left on iron posts with 2 pairs of early C19 French windows with glazing bars and 2 2-light casements to the right, one C19 and one C20. The first has 2 2-light probably C18 casements, 8-panes per light, one on either side of a false window; first floor window right is a late C20 plastic casement. The left return has a first floor stair window with a round-headed light with glazing bars in a square-headed frame. Interior: The 2 centre rooms have exposed scroll-stopped cross beams, the fireplace to the lateral stack is partly blocked but probably conceals earlier features. The adjacent room to the left has a massive open fireplace with dressed stone jambs and a lintel that extends almost the entire width of the room. A large C19 bread oven projects into what is probably a void on one side of the fireplace and a deep cupboard on the other. On the first floor above this cupboard is a plastered walk-in cupboard with a lime ash floor (q.v. Giffords in Bampton which has a similar arrangement). The left hand room has a chamfered axial beam, probably of C18 date. C17 chamfered stopped doorframe into first floor right hand room. Roof: Side-pegged jointed crucks survive over the 2 centre rooms. Apex not inspected but said not to be smoke-blackened.

Listing NGR: SS8728522515