Ball Farmhouse

SAMPFORD COURTENAY SX 69 NW 8/125 Ball Farmhouse II

Farmhouse. Probably early C16, heavily remodelled and extended in circa early-mid C17. Plastered cob and rubble walls. Gable ended thatch roof. Brick stack at left gable end, and rendered axial stack offset from ridge; rear wing has gable end projecting granite stack with tapering cap. Plan: Probably originated as 3-room-and-through-passage plan, hall open to the roof with central hearth. In the circa early-mid C17 a heavy remodelling took place either at the time that the hall was floored and its axial stack inserted or else slightly later. This remodelling divided the hall into 2 small rooms, the higher one an unheated dairy and created a large parlour at the higher end, possibly extending the house slightly. At the same time or slightly later a rear kitchen wing was added behind the passage. At an indeterminate date the lower room was demolished, or much reduced and now consists of a basically 1-storey unheated room, extended slightly in the C20. Exterior: 2 storeys. The roof-line drops over the right-hand part of the house, which is 1 storey. Asymmetrical 2-window front, 5 windows to ground floor. Circa mid-late C20 1-light casements to right-hand part. To left-hand part on ground floor are circa early C20 2-light small-paned casements. On first floor is 1 light C20 casement to the right and late C20 small semi-circular bay window to left supported on a bracket. The rear elevation has large wing projecting to left and Cl9 small-paned casements on the back wall. Interior: at the lower side of the passage is the remains of a plank and muntin screen with chamfered muntins. The room to the higher side of the passage has a fireplace with high chamfered wooden lintel and granite jambs. 2 axial beams with roll mouldings. The parlour has a similar fireplace which has had a cloam oven inserted into it. Large fireplace with chamfered wooden lintel in rear kitchen. It also has chamfered cross beams. Roof: over the hall of main range are 2 original trusses which may be jointed crucks, 1 of which appears to be slightly smoke-blackened. Its collar is probably a replacement. The rear wing has a C17 truss with slightly curved feet and dovetail halved collar. This is an interesting example of a C16 house heavily remodelled in the C17 to create a quite different plan from the original.

Listing NGR: SX6260695894