Grove Farm

Grove Farm

A timber-framed farmhouse with later brick cladding, comprising two distinct ranges in an L-shaped plan. The western range is of cruck-frame construction with three bays, while the cross wing to the east is of box-frame construction forming a further bay. The property has undergone substantial development and alteration over several centuries.

The principal front elevation is faced in red and burnt brick in Flemish bond, set on an ironstone and brick plinth. This brickwork dates from 1737, with the south elevation of the cross wing rebuilt in the 1860s, marked by a clear straight joint between the two builds. The brick cornice is supported by a dog-tooth dentil course at the eaves. Windows are symmetrically placed as timber triple-casements with six lights, the upper-floor windows cutting through the cornice. An exception is a large segmental brick arch to the east of the porch, possibly originally a doorway, and a canted bay window to the eastern bay, probably inserted in the 1950s. All windows were renewed in the 1970s, though set within their original openings. A porch with pitched roof and bargeboards occupies the space between the second and third bays. The central chimney stack has been rebuilt in brick.

The western elevation displays a single first-floor double casement with segmental arch. The brickwork on the south and west elevations clearly shows the original roof line. The northern elevation has been much altered with most windows in new openings, though a regular dentilated brick course runs beneath the eaves. The early 19th-century brick gabled cross wing features casement windows in segmental brick openings in the gable elevation. An 1860s single-storey brew house extension adjoins this to the north, originally with a cat-slide roof. This has been re-roofed in slate with skylights; a chimney stack and large 18-light casement window have been added to the north elevation, the chimney reinstating an earlier one demolished probably in the 1970s. The upper part of the gable of the early 19th-century dairy is in header bond. The east elevation has a triple casement window directly under the eaves and a double casement in a segmental brick opening below, with three courses in header bond at eaves level, the middle course projecting to form a cornice. A modern single-storey flat-roofed link block adjoins a single-storey pitched-tiled range to the south, connecting to a converted farm building.

The roof is clay tile to the principal range with replacement slate cat-slide roof to the rear.

Internally, substantial timber structure survives including one complete and one partial cruck frame. The westernmost room contains a rough-hewn timber spine beam with exposed rafters. Remains of a timber room partition with floor plate and central door opening are evident. The surviving cruck is the westernmost of the probably three original cruck frames, with the westernmost bay representing a later 18th-century extension. Both north and south crucks are embedded into the 18th-century brickwork at the foot of the walls. The inglenook fireplaces either side of the large central stack have been rebuilt in modern brick with reused timber bressumers. A staircase rises on the north side of the main stack in modern construction but probably in the original position. The crucks are exposed in the west bedroom with a tie beam joining them at ceiling height. Purlins are supported on spurs from the cruck blades and on modern metal wall plates where they meet the west wall. The remains of the southern blade of the central cruck frame are visible to the south-east of the central stack, bearing smoke blackening, probably from a fire. The raised roof structure comprises mainly 19th and 20th-century replacement timbers, though evidence of wind-braced roof survives in the cross range.

Elements of the box framing of the cross wing are visible to the east of the main staircase, including jowelled wall posts and tie beam, studding, joists and collars. Some joists are numbered sequentially with Roman numerals. A spine beam is visible in the kitchen. To the south of the kitchen is an internal well with modern surrounding wall.

To the north of the house is a second well with modern brick surround, which originally supplied the brew house. To the south are the remains of a dry stone revetment, possibly to a moat, of undetermined date.