Monk'S Thatch

Monk's Thatch is a late 16th-century farmhouse with alterations from the 17th century, an 18th-century wing, and 20th-century modernization. It is constructed of rendered rubble walls with a thatched roof, half-hipped at one end and gabled to the right and wing. The roof features a central axial stone stack set off from the ridge and incorporating a dripcourse and brick shaft, along with a brick stack at the right-hand gable end and an axial stack at the rear of the left-hand end where it adjoins the wing. Originally a 3-room and through-passage plan, it was likely open to the roof with a central hearth, at least over the hall. A stack was inserted in the 17th century, backing onto the passage, when the room was ceiled. This insertion resulted in a slight darkening of the timbers, suggesting the hall was open to the roof for a brief period. During this time, a newel staircase was integrated in a rear projection and the rear wall of the inner room was built out flush with it. An 18th-century rear wing was added behind the lower end, with a barn beyond, and stacks were inserted at that end and in the inner room. The interior was modernized in the 20th century, with the removal of a plank and muntin screen beside the hall stack, and likely a similar one at the lower side of the passage. The newel stairs were replaced with divided stairs, and the passage was partitioned off from the first-floor rooms. The asymmetrical front has a 5-window arrangement (4 on the ground floor), with 20th-century 2 and 3-light casements with glazing bars in relatively small openings. A late 20th-century 4-light window is on the left-hand side of the first floor, with a single light window to its right. A 20th-century plank door is located to the left of the centre, under a thatched porch hood supported on wooden posts. Inside, one and a half original roof trusses remain over the hall. The complete truss consists of substantial straight principals morticed at the apex with threaded purlins, a diagonal ridge, and collar halved onto the principals. An additional similar principal rafter, cut off at the top, rises beside the hall stack, suggesting an earlier roof structure. All original timbers, along with the battens and thatch between them, are darkened but not black. The hall retains a 16th-century plank and muntin screen at its upper end, with a chamfered head beam and muntins featuring diagonal cut stops. A half-beam with mortices on its soffit at the lower end of the hall indicates the former presence of a similar screen, which predated the hall stack. The hall fireplace has a chamfered wooden lintel, now filled in at the sides, obscuring the stops. A chamfered cross beam with hollow step stops is also present. The house preserves interesting internal features and its traditional facade contributes significantly to the character of the main street.