Rackleigh Farmhouse

Rackleigh Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating probably from the early 16th century, with significant alterations and remodelling occurring around the mid-17th century, 18th century, 19th century, and 20th century. The building is constructed of cob and rubble, primarily rendered and colourwashed, with a slate roof and three brick ridge stacks.

Originally designed with a three-room and through- or cross-passage plan, the lower end of the house is situated to the right. It’s possible the original hall was open to the roof and initially heated with an open hearth fire, which would have resulted in an axial stack being an improvement during the 16th century. Alternatively, the hall may have always been heated from this stack. A floor was inserted in the mid-17th century, evidenced by the high, corbelled fireplace lintel contrasting with the moulded ceiling beam of the hall. The lower end has a gable end stack, whilst the inner room remained unheated. In the 18th century, a staircase was inserted into the passage, and the roof was entirely replaced. There is now a direct entry at the front into the inner room. 19th-century alterations include changes to the front elevation and the addition of outbuildings at the rear. The inner room is now the kitchen, and the fireplace in the lower end room is blocked. In the mid-20th century, the lower right end was extended with a large addition.

The front of the house has two storeys and five windows, displaying an asymmetrical facade. The fenestration is characterized by 19th-century casements with close-set glazing bars. There are two door openings: a plank door opening onto the former through-passage on the right, and another inserted into the inner room on the left.

Inside, a plank and muntin partition separates the hall from the inner room, dating back to around 1500, with chamfered muntins and a head rail featuring mason's mitres and head stops. A 19th-century bench has replaced an earlier one. A doorway boasts a chamfered surround and a depressed arch head. The hall ceiling is later, likely dating to around 1650, showcasing ovolo-moulded cross ceiling beams with ogee- and thumbnail-stops. The hall fireplace has a simple chamfered corbelled lintel. A single, later chamfered ceiling beam is found in the inner room. The former kitchen also retains a chamfered cross ceiling beam, with a completely blocked fireplace and a 20th-century brick grate inserted. The hall has a hammered earth floor.

The collar-beam roof appears to have been replaced in the early 18th century, using lapped joints pegged and nailed.