Whitehall Farmhouse

SS 92 SE MOREBATH MOREBATH

6/133 Whitehall Farmhouse -

GV II

Former farmhouse. Circa late C16 or earlier origins, remodelled and probably extended in the mid C17. Whitewashed rendered stone rubble and cob; slate roof (formerly thatched), gabled at ends; 2 axial stacks to main range, end stack to rear wing. Plan: Unusually complex plan. Single depth 3-room plan main block with an unheated room at the left end, and 2 heated rooms at the right end, one on either side of a passage containing a stair. A 1-room plan wing adjoining the front at right angles is unheated; second 1 room plan kitchen wing adjoins the rear right corner of the main range; rear lean-to to main range. The main range is probably the earlier part of the house and could be late medieval in origin, possibly remodelled in the late C16 when the front (dairy) wing could have been added. There appears to have been a substantial remodelling of the circa early/mid C17 when the kitchen wing was added and the left hand of the 2 heated main range rooms was upgraded to a smart parlour. The rear lean-to forms part of this remodelling giving access from the kitchen to the unheated left end room of the main range and providing an axial corridor on the first floor. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window front to the main range with a gabled wing to the right and the present front door into the main block to the right of the wing with a slate porch hood, further doorway with similar hood into wing on its right return. To the.-left of the wing the main range has 2-light casement windows with glazing bars, similar first floor casement in gable end of wing. 5-light ground floor window on right return of wing. Interior: Numerous features of interest. The right hand room of the main range has step-stopped cross beams with decorated stops, the centre room has an early C17 decorated plaster ceiling with the remains of a cornice and ornamental motifs; chamfered stopped cross beams to front wing and rear kitchen wing which has an open fireplace with a bread oven and what may be a curing chamber. Good crank-arched timber doorframes to ground and first floor. Roof: Evidence of considerable replacement and remodelling including one probably C17 truss.

Listing NGR: SS9548624971