Greatwood Farmhouse

MERTON SS 51 SW 11/139 Greatwood Farmhouse - II

Farmhouse. Circa mid to later C17 with C19 additions and alteration. Stone rubble walls. Gable ended slate roof. Rubble rear lateral stack and one at right gable end: Plan: 3 room and through passage plan but lower room to right appears always to have been parlour, hall probably also functioned as a kitchen with rear lateral fireplace and inner room was unheated service room. The front door opens directly against a straight run staircase with the through passage to the left of it - it is possible that this unusual arrangement may be original but it seems more likely to be the result of C19 modifications. 2 C19 outshuts added at rear. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5 window front of wooden mullion ovolo-moulded windows - 3-light on first floor 4-light below. To all appearances these seem to be C17 but it is possible that they have restored in the C19. The only exception is an C18 3-light leaded pane casement to left of centre on first floor. First floor windows have wooden hoodmoulds over with decorative labels. Stone hoodmoulds over ground floor windows. The window over the porch is blocked but still has its hoodmould. C19 gabled stone porch with segmental arch, behind it is C19 plank door in probably C17 double ovolo-moulded wooden doorframe. Interior: No early features visible apart from in the right-hand ground floor room which has a good later C17 decorative plaster ceiling consisting of central oval trailing vine garland with ribbed panels in corners and a bold cornice of acanthus leaves. There are the remains of a plaster overmantle of which the central device has been removed leaving a pilaster to each side and cornice above. Other features may have been concealed by C19 modernization. This is an interesting example of an apparently single phase mid-later C17 house with a slight variation on the conventional plan form and preserving a very traditional appearance.

Listing NGR: SS5472012877