East Heywood Farmhouse

BONDLEIGH SS 60 SW 5/5 East Heywood Farmhouse GV II Farmhouse. Circa early C16 with C17 alterations and addition. Rendered cob walls corrugated asbestos roof gabled to right end and to rear wing. Rendered rubble axial stack offset from ridge, rendered brick stack at right gable end and projecting rendered lateral stack with brick shaft at side of wing. Plan: Originally 3-room-and-through-passage plan almost certainly with an open hall although there is no direct evidence of this. What looks like an original hall window at the rear of the house is in fact over the lower end - either it has been re-used or there was some form of 1st floor solar at the lower end. In the Cl7 considerable alterations were made to the house. It was floored throughout and a hall stack inserted backing onto the passage. Behind the inner room a substantial mid C17 parlour wing was built heated by a lateral stack. The lower room was also probably extended at this time. In the circa mid C20 the thatch was removed from the roof and any evidence of a medieval roof probably went with it. The house was refenestrated at the front but the rear elevation left relatively unaltered. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5 window front of early-mid C20 2 and 3-light casements, some with small panes. 1st floor right-hand window is transomed and may be earlier. Gabled C20 part-glazed porch at centre. Rear elevation has C19 plank door at rear of passage to right of centre. To its left on the 1st floor is a tall circa early C16 wooden mullion window with richly moulded mullions and jambs and depressed 4-centred heads to the 2 outer lights. A C20 window has been inserted into the 2 inner lights. Moulded wooden lintel above. To the right is a much smaller 2-light C17 chamfered wooden mullion window with leaded panes. C20 2-light casement to its right. Beyond that the wing projects with a C20 leanto porch against its inner face above which is a C17 3-light wooden mullion window the glazing of which has been replaced. Interior: Hall has chamfered cross beams with hollow steps stops. Open fireplace but the lintel has been renewed. Lower room has very substantial cross beams with convex stops. 2 C17 doorframes survive to the inner room - one from the hall, one from the wing - both square-headed and chamfered. The wing has a chamfered axial beam and a blocked fireplace with ovolo-moulded wooden lintel resting on stone corbels. Roof: Over the main range no original timbers survive; however the rear wing retains its C17 timbers; straight principals with collar halved on with notched joints. This house preserves its C17 plan form with a number of contemporary features but is particularly notable for tne unusual survival of a medieval timber window. It forms an important group with a C17 detached kitchen (q.v) across its back courtyard and also has attractive later farm buildings (q.v) to the front.

Listing NGR: SS6451903561