The Old Farmhouse

The Old Farmhouse is a house, originally a farmhouse, dating back to around 1500, with significant alterations and additions made in the 17th century ("1638" inscribed on a reset datestone), and minor changes in the 18th century. A partial rebuilding took place in the mid-20th century. The main structure is built of painted and rendered coursed sandstone rubble, with weatherboarding beneath the eaves and a gabled, scantle slate roof. Formerly thatched, evidence of which exists in old photographs. An outbuilding is of coursed sandstone rubble and cob construction.

The original layout was a 3-room-and-cross-passage plan, dating from around 1500, comprising a hall, a cross-passage and a service room (demolished in the mid-20th century) to the west, and an inner room to the east. Originally a continuously or partially open hall house, it was floored in the mid-17th century, with an axial stack inserted into the hall at that time, which was truncated in the 20th century. The eaves were likely raised during this period. A room was added at the upper (east) end, possibly in the 17th or 18th century, with an integral end stack. Rooms were also added at the lower end, likely in the 17th century. These rooms, along with the former service rooms and cross-passage, were demolished and rebuilt in the mid-20th century. A 20th-century porch to the front of the hall is now blocked. A late 18th-century lean-to remains at the rear. An outbuilding was added to the left, probably in the 18th or 19th century, and curves outwards to the front.

The front facade is asymmetrical, with 4 windows. It features 20th-century 2 and 3-light wooden casements with wooden lintels. A pair of 20th-century glazed doors are positioned between the first and second windows from the left, and a pair of French casements is on the right (the former hall). The reset datestone "ANO.DNI/1638" is set into a lean-to porch positioned between the first and second windows from the left. Initials follow the date, but were illegible during the survey in July 1987. A large mid-20th-century addition is located to the right.

Inside, the hall contains a pair of chamfered spine beams and a wall beam to the rear, with long stepped run-out stops. An open fireplace is present. A round-arched doorway, dating from around 1500, is located between the former cross-passage and hall, featuring a pegged frame and chamfered lower end. The former inner room to the left has a pair of 17th-century chamfered cross beams. A 17th-century chamfered doorframe, with mason’s mitres and broach stops, leads between the hall and the inner room. Most of the roof was rebuilt in the 17th century, but at least one pair of around 1500 elbow crucks survive at the upper end of the inner room.