The Homestead Farmhouse

The Homestead Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating to the late 17th century, with substantial alterations and reconstruction in the 18th or early 19th century. A sundial in the garden bears the date 1662. It is constructed of whitewashed rubble with slate roofs and stone stacks. The main range is symmetrical, originally with two rooms and a central stair, and is complemented by a large rear wing and a smaller return wing. Attached to the left-hand end is a further two-room unit which may have been a former bakehouse or dairy.

The two-storey left range has a low-slung roof, featuring two two-light casements with horizontal bars set within brick segmental heads at ground floor level, and a small two-light window in the gable. A central ridge stack is present. The main house is arranged over two storeys with three windows, all casements with thin mullions. The first floor has a 3:2:3-light arrangement with small panes, while the ground floor has three-light casements with horizontal bars. Slate-hung aprons are located between the outer windows on each side. A central gabled porch forms a prominent feature, housing a fine early plank door framed within a broad surround, and topped with an outer basket-handle arch. Four pigeon holes are visible in the eaves on the right side. Each gable has a stack, the left-hand one being formerly external, and the roof is slightly higher than that of the adjoining unit. The return wing steps down to the level of the farmyard, and has further casements to the rear gables. A wide plank door is located to the right.

Inside, the floors are of stone flag, and there are some substantial roof timbers. A large bressumer fire is found in the left-hand room, with a 20th-century fireplace in the room to the right. The extension also contains a large open bressumer fireplace, or a baking oven. Several early plank doors remain, some fitted with H-hinges. The centrally positioned staircase divides at a quarter landing.