Week Barton

Week Barton

Farmhouse, circa 1500 with 16th and 17th century alterations, extended and altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. Plastered cob walls with gable-ended slate roof and three brick stacks—two axial and one at the left gable-end.

The house was originally built to a three-room-and-through-passage plan, probably with the lower end to the right. It featured an open hall with a central hearth fire, separated from the passage by a thick full-height wall that was likely floored from the start. The arrangement over the higher end has been obscured by later roof replacement.

During the 16th century, a chamber was inserted above the passage, jetted out into the open hall. The partition of this chamber shows no smoke-blackening on the hall side, indicating that the hall stack was inserted at the same time—an unusual arrangement, as it was more customary to place a jettied chamber at the higher end and a fireplace at the lower end. The hall was finally floored around the early 17th century, possibly when the inner and lower room stacks were inserted. In the 18th century, the passage was blocked by insertion of a staircase, and an outbuilding was possibly added as an extension to the lower end. During the 19th and possibly early 20th century, outshuts were added to the rear. Further 20th century modernisation converted the outbuilding section into part of the accommodation.

Exterior: Two storeys with an asymmetrical six-window front, mostly of late 20th century PVC casements except for an early 20th century three-light casement to the left of centre on the ground floor. A 19th century lean-to stands to the left, with an early 20th century brick and glazed porch at the centre and a part-glazed door. PVC French windows to the right of centre are accompanied by another 20th century porch.

Interior: A small section of 17th century panelling is exposed on the lower side of the passage and may exist on both sides. The passage contains a good 18th century dog-leg staircase with column newels, ramped handrail, carved tread ends and small turned balusters, some replaced. Above the partition in the hall, evidence of the jetty survives, though the beam itself has been plastered over. The hall fireplace has been altered in the 20th century with its old lintel covered. Chamfered ceiling beams appear in the hall and inner room. Two good 17th century studded doors with chamfered cover strips survive, along with some 18th century two-panel doors. On the first floor is a 17th century chamfered wooden doorframe.

Roof: Over the passage, one complete smoke-blackened truss survives with curved feet, morticed cranked collar, diagonal ridge and threaded purlins. Over the hall is another original truss with its apex cut off. The ridge continues through the thick wall over the lower room but is not smoke-blackened there. Over the higher end is a rough 18th or 19th century truss with simply lapped collar. The jetty partition at the lower end of the hall is constructed of thick well-finished studs with no evidence of smoke-blackening on either side.

This house preserves interesting features from several periods, with others possibly still concealed, and was evidently a house of some quality.