Henacroft Farmhouse

IDDESLEIGH SS 50 NE 4/111 Henacroft Farmhouse - - II Farmhouse. Circa late C16, possibly with late medieval origins, extended in C18 with C19 alterations. Rendered cob walls. Hipped thatch and asbestos slate roof. Rendered rubble lateral stack at front, brick stack at left-hand end and rendered brick lateral stack at rear. Plan: originally 3-room and through passage plan with lower end to the right. Hall heated by front lateral stack, lower room by rear lateral stack and inner room by gable end stack which may be an addition. At the front of the inner room an unheated wing was added probably in the later C17 of an unclear purpose since a dairy wing was added behind the inner room at a similar or slightly later date. Any evidence of a medieval open hall was probably removed when the hall and lower end were remodelled and the eaves raised, although it is possible that evidence survives over the inner room which is still thatched. The passage was blocked by an inserted staircase. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window front of which the right-hand part was remodelled in the C19 with higher eaves to its slate roof and late C19 6-pane sashes. C20 gabled glazed porch to right of centre. The left-hand part of the house is thatched with a wing projecting from the end with C20 brick leanto built against its inner face. Behind the left-hand end is a 1-storey thatched wing. Interior: hall has chamfered beams with pyramid stops. Plastered beam in inner room. All early fireplaces blocked but probably still survive. On the first floor is a C17 chamfered wooden doorframe. The part of the house remodelled in the C19 had its roof totally replaced. It is possible however that an early roof structure survives over the inner room where heavy purlins are visible although there is no evidence of a truss on the first floor. The front wing probably preserves its original roof of substantial straight principals.

Listing NGR: SS5905608775