Wilsham Farmhouse

Wilsham Farmhouse, now divided, was originally built in the early 17th century, with significant alterations and additions made in the mid-18th century, followed by remodelling in the early to mid-19th century, and a final division in the late 20th century. The farmhouse is constructed of rendered, probably over coursed sandstone rubble, with rendered and brick stacks, partially covered with slate. It has a two-span hipped slate roof.

The initial plan likely comprised a three-room-and-cross-passage layout with an integral end stack at the upper end, and a cross wing added to the lower (east) end, projecting to the rear (north) with its own integral end stack. A parallel range was added to the front (south) in the mid-18th century, and the eaves of the rear wing were raised, alongside a rebuild of its roof, revealing straight joints flanking the stack. The roof over the rear range was also rebuilt at this time.

The south front is asymmetrical, featuring 1:3 bays. It has mid to late-19th century wooden cross windows with stone sills. A C19 rendered gabled porch with a pair of half-glazed doors and side windows is located in the second bay from the right, which also contains a door with six beaded flush panels (the top four being glazed) and a beaded surround. The right-hand return front displays 18th-century four-light wooden casements with wooden lintels on both the ground and first floors. The north front irregularly features three windows with 19th and later wooden casements. A doorway is positioned off-centre to the left, with a 20th-century lean-to porch located in the angle of the wing to the left, providing access to the east side of the house.

Inside, a former through-passage to the rear range likely existed, with opposed doors, the southern door now leading into the later front range. A stud wall between the passage and hall, and the wall between the hall and the lower end, were removed in the late 20th century. A doorway from the former passage to the lower end is now sealed, reflecting the house’s division. The rear room, now a kitchen, has cross beams with mortices on their undersides, and a fireplace with a reused wooden lintel. A room on the ground floor of the north-east cross wing has deep-chamfered cross beams with scroll stops. Segmental brick-arched open fireplaces, including a bread oven, are also present. An old winder staircase is located to the right of the fireplace, alongside an old boarded door with wrought-iron strap hinges. An early to mid-19th century staircase with stick balusters is found in the front range. The front range and wing have roofs dating back to the 18th Century, with five and three bays respectively, incorporating tie-beam trusses to the front range and collar trusses to the wing. Pairs of purlins are also present. The roof over the rear range was not inspected during the survey in July 1987.