Down Farmhouse

HARTLAND SS 22 NW

1/123 Down Farmhouse

2.6.77

• II

Farmhouse. C17 or earlier in origin but remodelled and extended in C18. Plastered stone rubble walls possibly with some cob. Gable-ended slate roof. The main range has a plastered rubble stack with dripcourses at its left gable end, a rendered brick axial stack and a rendered rubble stack with brick shaft at right gable. Front wing has rendered brick stack at its gable-end, and there is a gable-end brick stack to the rear wing. Plan: complex pattern of development. The house apparently originated as 3 rooms with a cross or through-passage, the lower room to the left. This is heated by a gable-end fireplace, as is the inner room, whereas the hall has a fireplace on its rear wall. In a projection at the rear of the passage is a C17 winder staircase which could be either original or an addition. The house was apparently remodelled in the early C18 and from this phase are the wing behind the lower room and the shallow 2 storey porch at the front of the passage. The larger wing at the front of the inner room is of an uncertain date since no early features are visible but is probably no later than early C19 and may be considerably earlier. Exterior: asymmetrical 4-window front with wing projecting from its right-hand end and shallow 2 storey gabled porch to left of centre. This has a small-paned 2-light C20 casement on its 1st floor and a similar one to its left. To the right on the 1st floor is a C19 16-pane sash. The other windows are late C19 or early C20 6-pane sashes. C19 panelled and glazed door to porch under late C19 or early C20 slate doorhood on curved wooden brackets. C20 part-glazed door to right. Projecting wing has 2 C20 small-paned 2-light casements to 1st floor and 2 6-pane sashes below with C20 light to the left. Rear wing extends behind left-hand end with further C20 addition beyond. Rear elevation has flat-roofed wing and C20 lean-tos, the right- hand one incorporating stair projection. Interior: exhibits few early features although beams and open fireplaces may be concealed by C20 alterations. Some early C18 2 panel doors survive. The rear wing has a substantial wany and rough cross beam. At the top of the winder stairs is a C17 chamfered wooden doorframe with high step stops. The straight principal rafters over the main range and rear wing date probably from the C18 and the roof structure over the front wing is unlikely to be earlier. Despite the apparent lack of internal features the plan form of this house remains relatively unaltered and it has a particularly attractive traditional appearance, occupying a prominent roadside position.

Listing NGR: SS2449925458