Giffords Farmhouse and barn

Farmhouse and barn. The farmhouse dates to the 16th century and was altered in the mid-18th century, undergoing extensive restoration at the time of survey in May 1984. The walls are roughcast over cob, with a rear wing faced in rubble. The roof is double Roman tiled, with a slight bell-cast and overhanging eaves. There is a small rebuilt stack to the right gable end, a large external stepped stack on the front facade to the left of the entrance, and a tall brick stack rising from the eaves to the left.

The building has an L-shaped plan, comprised of a three-cell and cross passage layout oriented north-east to south-west, with a contemporary two-cell west wing that has been extended as outbuildings. It is two storeys high with 20th-century window openings. There is a tall dormer window rising from the eaves to the left of the stack, a small glazed opening on the first floor to the right, and an unexplained recess in the facade. On the ground floor, there are two window openings to the left of the lateral stack and one to the right of a 20th-century doorway, above which is an imported 19th-century Ham stone plaque carved with the initials CLP. The right gable end is unlit, and the long left return has 20th-century window openings.

Inside, stud-and-panel screens partition the cross passage, with decay to the right. There is a peaked doorframe, chamfered joists, and the apex of a moulded four-centred arch remains above the back door. The kitchen is to the right of the cross passage, with a staircase set against the rear wall. A chamfered lintel is above the fireplace, and there is a bread oven and evidence of a curing chamber. To the left, a hollow chamfered six-panel compartment ceiling is partially cut by an inserted staircase, while a recess to the left of a rebuilt fireplace is lit on the facade. A framed partition separates the end room, with a moulded four-panel compartment ceiling. The west wing has a framed west hall with another framed partition beyond, and four peaked doorframes at the junction. On the first floor, two pairs of framed jointed trusses are exposed, with intermediate trusses formed of cusped common rafters in three tiers, notched into chamfered purlins with run-out stops. The lower end of the roof was not visible, and the west gable end is timber framed with concave wind braces, partially cut by an inserted 20th-century window. The survival of original timberwork is remarkable.