Little Fairwood

TEDBURN ST MARY SX 89 SW

3/72 Little Fairwood 11.11.52

II

House. Late medieval origins, remodelled in the circa late C16, late C20 re-roofing and some refenestration. Whitewashed plastered cob; tiled roof, gabled at ends (formerly thatched), cob axial stack with brick shaft, projecting rear lateral stack with brick shaft. Present plan 4 rooms wide, single depth with a cross passage. The late medieval plan was an open hall house, possibly with a narrow 2-storey inner room at the left end. The open hall house may have been divided by a tall partition with the hall with an open hearth to the left. The lower end, to the right, was probably floored over first with a rear lateral stack added with a newel stair at the rear, and used as a kitchen. When the rest of the house was floored the axial stack was inserted, partly in the width of the passage. At a later date, probably in the C18, an extra room was added at the (lower) right end of the house. A C19 stair has been added in the rear of the passage. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5-window front with 2 first floor gabled dormers. Approximately central front door into passage, projecting semi-circular bread oven to left of door. Second doorway to the right-hand end of the range. 3 first floor and 1 ground floor casement windows preserve small panes, other fenestration C20. The medieval hall window survives, blocked on the rear wall; a 4-light timber mullioned window with mullions with diagonal stops. Interior Some C16 features survive, others are probably concealed by wall plaster. The lower end room has a chamfered cross beam with bar stops, rear right timber newel stair with oak treads. The hall has a chamfered cross beam with step stops. Parts of the medieval roof are preserved; a jointed cruck over the hall has a threaded ridge and trenched purlins, collar no longer exists. Some smoke-blackened rafters survive. An interesting feature of the house is a first floor plank and muntin oak partition above the left-hand partition of the passage. The fireplaces have C20 grates, probably concealing earlier features. An attractively-sited evolved house of the region, the survival of the medieval hall window on the rear wall is remarkable.

Listing NGR: SX8277794866