Great Gutton Farmhouse

Great Gutton Farmhouse is a large farmhouse dating to the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with possible earlier origins, and featuring minor alterations from the 18th and 19th centuries. The exterior is a mix of roughcast volcanic stone and cob on rubble footings, with some brick alterations; it has volcanic stone and brick stacks, and a wheat reed thatched roof. The building is now two storeys throughout.

The main south-facing block appears to have evolved from a three-room and through passage plan, with an inner room on the right (east) side. A front porch leads to the passage, and a gable-ended wing projects forward from the left end. Three wings project to the rear. Large stone lateral stacks are located to the rear of the hall and inner room, and a kitchen stack is in the gable end of the western rear wing. Other stacks have uncertain dates. The front elevation has five windows. To the right of the porch, the original four-window arrangement is largely intact on both floors, except the ground floor right-end window replaced by a 19th-century door. The remaining three ground-floor windows are large, oak-framed, four-light, ovolo-moulded, mullion and central transom windows. Two similar windows are on the first floor, rising into the eaves, alternating with smaller three-light, ovolo-moulded, oak-mullioned windows. All windows are glazed with small, rectangular leaded panes; these consist of 10 panes per light below the transom on the ground floor, and 8 panes per light below the transom; 6 panes are above the transom on the first floor. Some windows have early iron casements, ferramenta catches, and much crown glass. The porch appears to have been reduced from two to a single storey. The ovolo-moulded entrance frame contains an original oak studded front door within a moulded oak frame with urn stops. To the left of the porch, the front wall has been brought forward to align flush with the porch, incorporating a large 18th-century three-light casement window. The front wing on the left shows no external indication of being older than the 18th century and features timber sash windows with eight panes per sash in the gable end, with some exposed brickwork on the left side.

The rear elevation’s three gable-ended wings provide a symmetrical appearance, and more original oak window frames are present. Large mullion and transom windows rise into the eaves either side of the central wing, which has a four-light mullioned window in the gable end and a two-light window on the left side. Here, the mullions and transoms are chamfered, being to the rear of the house. The derelict wing to the left (behind the inner room) contains 17th-century trusses and a partly collapsed framed cross wall. The right-end kitchen wing has been partially rebuilt, with evidence that the roof was raised in the 18th or 19th century. It is said that the main block has a smoke-blackened roof structure, suggesting possible medieval origins. Ground floor rooms on either side of the passage are lined with late 16th and early 17th century oak panelling. A low rubble stone wall runs along the front, topped by 19th-century iron railings between brick piers, with a short flight of four stone steps to an iron gate and a mounting block to the left, creating a formal approach.