Far Orrest Old Farm Cottage

The building is a house, likely originally an open hall with an integral solar, and now used as a storage building. It probably dates to the late medieval period with alterations and additions. The construction of cruck framing suggests the original structure was timber-framed or clay, and it is now built of slobbered rubble. It has a graduated slate roof with a full-width outshut to the rear and a large square stone chimney to the west end. The original plan was gable entry. The house is two storeys high, consisting of four bays, with a single-bay garage adjoining the east end, open to the roof. A central gabled stone porch with a lean-to open-fronted store adjoining it to the right was probably added in the 17th century. The plank inner door remains. There are a two-light fire-window and a four-light window to the left, and a three-light window to the right, at ground level, with further windows on the first floor. All windows are wood mullioned and transomed, likely dating to the 19th century. Similar windows are present to the rear, and the building has cast-iron gutters.

Inside, one original cruck remains in its original position, of an unusual type, with a vertical tie between the chamfered main tie and the curved collar, incorporating wind-braces to trenched plank purlins. The main tie has been re-used above a fire-bressumer to support a later 17th-century inserted floor with a massive central cross-beam and joists, all stop-chamfered. A fireplace, 11 feet wide, with a stone heck and stepped stone hood, is a 16th-century insertion. A stone dog-leg stair has been added to the rear. The original roof eaves were raised, and new purlins inserted; the roof structure of the former solar utilizes the blade of the second cruck as a purlin.

A subsequent listing description describes the building as probably early 16th century, with alterations. It is built of rubble and has three casement window openings on the ground floor, the central one being larger and the right-hand one lighting a room likely added later. Slate drip-courses and sills are present. There is only one window on the first floor in the middle. A doorway is situated to the right of the middle window, in a gabled porch with a camber-headed entry and slate drip course. A broad chimney is close to the left gable. The roof is of old slates, supported by a crack truss. Inside is an 11-foot wide hearth under a massive oak lintel. A blocked door beside this in the gable likely represents the original entry. A stone dog-leg stair is located between two small rear rooms.