Woodrow Farmhouse

ASHREIGNEY SS 61 SW 6/17 Woodrow Farmhouse II Farmhouse. Circa 1500 with early C17 alterations, and C18 additions. Plastered cob walls. Thatch roof gabled to left end hipped to right. Brick stack at left-hand end, rubble stack with tapering cap axial to rear wing. Plan: it is not clear whether the original plan had 2 or 3 rooms with a through- passage as the hall to the right of the passage is quite small and has a very small room to its right which is presently completely blocked off from it. Originally hall had central hearth and the house was open to the roof from end to end, divided only by low partitions. Whether it was floored in sequence or in one step is also unclear as the presence of a first floor screen suggests that the lower end may have been floored before the hall but the screen may have been re-used from the ground floor as there is no partition above it. The modernisation was completed by the early to mid Cl7 by which time the hall was floored and had a rear lateral stack inserted. The lower room has a gable-end stack which dates from at late C19 or early C20 rebuild of the end wall. The small dairy wing behind it is contemporary to the wall but adjoins a C18 barn forming a wing behind the hall, which has been converted to accommodation. The passage which was blocked at the rear by the addition of the wing had a staircase inserted in the later C19 or early C20. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5-window front. The windows to right of the door are early C19 12-pane sashes to the ground floor, 9 panes to the first floor. Otherwise small paned early C20 2-light casements on the first floor, 2- and 3- lights below. C20 part-glazed door to passage to right of centre. Large wing at centre of rear elevation. Interior: lower room has 2 heavy chamfered beams. Remains of plank and muntin screen at lower side of passage has a chamfered muntin and headbeam. Hall has 3 ovolo-moulded cross beams. On the first floor is another plank and muntin screen with unstopped chamfered muntins both screens are probably C16.. Roof: complete medieval smoke-blackened roof survives consisting mainly of raised crucks but with one face-pegged jointed cruck to the lower side of the passage. All the trusses are open and have threaded purlins, diagonal ridge, morticed apex and morticed curved collars. The sooted thatch and battens also survive. This house preserves a very traditional unspoilt appearance with some interesting features of which the complete medieval roof is a relatively unusual survival.

Listing NGR: SS6187514978