The Monks House

BRAFIELD ON THE GREEN CHURCH LANE SP8258 (West side) 14/11 No.25 (The Monks House) 03/05/68 (Formerly listed as No.23, No.25)

GV II

House. Mid-late C15, altered C17 and C19. Renovated and altered 1966-7. Coursed limestone rubble, C20 plain-tile roof replacing thatch, C20 stone end and ridge stacks. Hall house of three and a half bays, sub-divided horizontally at a later, probably C17, date to give 3-unit lobby-entry plan. 2-storey, 3-window range. C20 plank door to right of centre has C15 stone surround with chamfered jambs, four-centred 3-light C20 diamond-leaded casement windows to ground floor and similar 2-light casements to 1st floor, all with wood lintels. Kneelers survive of former coped gable to right. Projection to left end has stepped stone top and is hollow-possibly a former garderobe shaft. Single-storey extensions to right and to rear left and right. Head of a 2-light C15 window to rear with cinquefoil-headed lights and cut spandrels re-set at a lower level and reversed at renovation with new stone mullion. Interior: C16 decorative wall paintings to splays of C15 window discovered in course of renovation were not preserved (photographs in N.M.R.). Open fireplace with chamfered bressumer and chamfered spine beams. 2 trusses survive of original roof. Tie and arch-braced collar beams to principals and king post, halved over collar, to square set ridge piece. Stop-chamfered curved windbraces to single purlins and curved braces to ridge piece. Divided into two cottages before renovation and formerly known as The Old School House. It may have originally been built as a priest's house. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1973, pl19; C.T.P. Woodfield: The Larger Medieval House of Northamptonshire; Northamptonshire Archaeology 16, 1981, pp165, 166)

Listing NGR: SP8220558890