Down Farmhouse

Down Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating from the 17th century or earlier, with significant remodelling and extensions in the 18th century. It is constructed of plastered stone rubble walls, possibly with some cob, and has a gable-ended slate roof. The farmhouse has several plastered and rendered brick stacks, including gable-end stacks and an axial stack. The original plan likely comprised three rooms with a cross or through-passage, the lower room being to the left of the entrance. This room, along with the inner room, has a gable-end fireplace, while the hall features a fireplace on its rear wall. A 17th-century winder staircase is located in a projection at the rear of the passage, and its original status is uncertain. The early 18th century saw the addition of a wing behind the lower room and a shallow, two-story porch at the front of the passage. A larger wing in front of the inner room, likely dating from the early 19th century or possibly earlier, displays an uncertain date due to a lack of early features.

The exterior presents an asymmetrical four-window facade, with a projecting wing on the right and a shallow, two-story gabled porch to the left of centre. The porch has a small-paned 2-light casement window on the first floor and a similar window to its left, along with a 19th-century 16-pane sash window. Other windows on the front are late 19th or early 20th century 6-pane sashes. A 19th- or early-20th-century panelled door is set within a slate doorhood on curved wooden brackets, alongside a 20th-century part-glazed door. The projecting wing has two small-paned 2-light casements on the first floor and two 6-pane sashes below. A rear wing extends behind the left-hand end of the house, with a further 20th-century addition beyond. The rear elevation has a flat-roofed wing and 20th-century lean-tos, one incorporating a stair projection.

The interior exhibits few early features, although beams and open fireplaces may be concealed by 20th-century alterations. Some early 18th-century two-panel doors remain. The rear wing preserves a substantial wany and rough cross beam. At the top of the winder stairs is a 17th-century chamfered wooden doorframe with run-out stops. The main range and rear wing have straight principal rafters, likely dating from the 18th century, while the roof structure over the front wing is unlikely to be earlier. Despite the lack of internal features, the plan form of the farmhouse has remained relatively unaltered, and it occupies a prominent roadside setting with an attractive traditional appearance.