Court Farmhouse

Court Farmhouse

This farmhouse has its origins in the late medieval period and was substantially remodelled in the late 16th century, late 17th century, and again in the 18th century. The roof was replaced around 1970. The building is constructed of whitewashed rendered cob and stone with a wooden shingle roof replacing the original thatch, half-hipped at the left end and gabled at the right end. Lateral stacks are positioned at the rear left and projecting right end.

The house follows an overall L-shaped plan that reflects its complex development over several centuries. The original late medieval construction is evidenced by blackened roof timbers that were removed around 1970, indicating the house once contained an open hall. The current plan comprises two rooms to the front separated by a short entrance passage. The right-hand room is a high-quality parlour or hall retaining 16th and 17th century carpentry with a 17th century rear outshut. The plainer left-hand room contains a probably 18th century winder stair in a turret at its left end, with a second stair contemporary with the entrance passage rising from behind the right-hand room.

Photographic evidence from around 1900 suggests the rear wall once extended beyond the left end of the house, indicating that the building was truncated at the left end, probably losing its original cross passage and lower end room. The carpentry and joinery details document three major building phases: late 16th century crossbeams and joists in the right-hand room; 17th century fireplace lintel to the right-hand room, doorframes to the outshut and one first floor crossbeam; and probably 18th century plain carpentry details and door to the winder stair at the left end.

The exterior presents approximately two storeys with a symmetrical three-window front and a wide gabled porch with deep eaves. The windows comprise 3-light casement windows (some replaced with 20th century metal-framed examples) and a notable 3-light 17th century ovolo-moulded mullioned window above the porch, with a similar 17th century window to the rear of the left-hand room. A 1970s attic dormer occupies the centre front.

The interior of the right-hand ground floor room features a fine step-stopped crossbeam with chamfered step-stopped joists, with unplastered first floor floorboards. The joists project beyond the partition with the entrance passage, indicating the passage is a secondary feature. A partly blocked fireplace retains a scroll-stopped cambered 17th century timber lintel and a chamfered doorframe to the outshut with scroll-nick stopped jambs. An ornate timber cupboard door to the left of the fireplace bears the inscription "is 1678". A cambered door lintel has been re-sited on the partition wall at the left end.

The left-hand room contains a rough crossbeam and possibly 18th century fireplace with a plain timber lintel, together with a 2-panel 18th century door to the winder stair. On the first floor are 17th century chamfered doorframes with scroll nick stops to the outshut and to the right-hand room, which retains an ovolo-moulded stopped crossbeam and a plank and muntin screen at the left end. A chamfered step-stopped crossbeam serves the left-hand room.

The roof timbers are entirely 20th century replacements. The circa 1970s roof replacement and renovation enlarged the substantial attic storey, which is supported on good crossbeams. This multi-phase 16th and 17th century house retains interesting interior details throughout.