Rollestone Farmhouse

Rollesone Farmhouse is an early 18th-century farmhouse, and possibly a rebuilding of an earlier house, with alterations in the 20th century. It is constructed of rendered cob and stone rubble, with an asbestos slate roof (formerly thatched). The roof is half-hipped at the ends, and there are three lateral stacks at the rear, the one on the right being a later addition.

The plan is an interesting late vernacular design, likely derived from a three-room and through-passage arrangement, remaining asymmetrical, which suggests a possible remodelling of an earlier house. The single-depth house has three rooms wide, with an entrance located to the left of centre, leading into a through passage which contains the main stair. There is a heated parlour to the left, a large heated room to the right (likely the original farm kitchen), and a smaller room at the extreme right, with space subdivided in the 20th century. The first floor contains an original axial passage and a stair to the attic, which was evidently used as living space. A rear door in the through passage leads to a small enclosed courtyard with outbuildings, including a granary to the rear right. The farmhouse faces farm buildings arranged in a yard to the east.

The two-storey front has an asymmetrical four-window façade with regular fenestration. A late 20th-century replacement door is located to the left of centre, and there’s a 20th-century door at the extreme right. There are 3-light casement windows, except for a 2-light window above the porch; all appear to be 18th century. Some have bead-moulded mullions, while others have mullions hollow-chamfered to the interior, all glazed with small-pane timber casements.

Internally, the farmhouse is largely unaltered. The left-hand room contains an 18th-century chimney-piece with modest carved decoration and a 19th-century grate. The room to the right of centre has a large open fireplace with ashlar jambs, an iron lintel, and a brick arch. Adjacent to the stack is a stair with a straight flight incorporating a winder. The main stair has an attractive splat balustrade with twisted balusters. There are several original 18th-century doors on the first floor.

The roof structure consists of pegged collar-tie rafter trusses, with collars nailed to the principal rafters.