Duck House

This is a farmhouse dating from the 16th to 17th centuries, with a 19th-century extension and alteration. It was modernized in the 20th century, including a renewal and partial raising of the roof. Originally a longhouse, the lower end was later converted to domestic use. The house is constructed primarily of squared limestone rubble with a cedar shingle roof, and features brick and stone stacks.

The original high end has three windows and is single-storey with an attic. The lower end, to the right, is two-storey and also has three windows. The original cross passage doorway, positioned to the right of the centre, has been blocked; the current entrance is a 20th-century board door accessed by stone steps. Windows are small-pane casements with stone sills on both floors. Tooled lintels are present above the ground-floor openings. The original high end includes a single-light fire window and a two-light chamfered mullion window, both set within chamfered surrounds. The attic has flat dormers with two-light casements. Stacks are situated to the left end, right of centre and centre right. A large, flat stone with a hole through the centre projects from the gable wall on the right side, approximately two metres above ground level; local tradition suggests this was used for willow making.

At the rear, a plank door with a chamfered surround and a shallow Tudor arch sits at the right end. Two unaltered square lights with chamfered surrounds are located to the left of the door. Other rear windows are replacements in altered openings, including a two-light casement that blocks the original cross passage doorway to the left of the centre.

The interior ground floor features chamfered beams and square section joists with run-out stops visible in the original high end’s left and centre rooms. One room has an underdrawn ceiling, but the original beam remains. Partition walls of fielded panelling and grooved studs are still present between rooms. The left-hand room contains an inglenook fireplace with a chamfered bressumer, heck post, and a plain stone chimney-piece, along with a spice cupboard recess and a former turf oven. The centre room has a 19th-century box staircase. The room to the right contains a partitioned-off sleeping area with square grooved panelling incorporating two doors – one with butterfly hinges, one with H-L hinges. A section of similar panelling also survives.

The attic displays two pairs of full crucks with a saddle apex, with butt purlins pegged into spurs. A third, boxed pair of upper crucks also features a saddle apex. Two bays of the roof are underdrawn, revealing the original rafters in the centre bays. A stone firehood survives against the end wall. The centre bays contain two built-in box beds.

The house was likely built by John or Thomas Duck, a Farndale mason circa 1520, and remained in the Duck family’s possession until circa 1750. As one of the few remaining examples of a moors farmhouse from the post-medieval period, particularly following losses such as Carr Cote, Bilsdale, and Oak Cragg, Farndale, Duck House holds significant historical importance.