Balgrove'S Farmhouse And Adloining Walls To North West And South West

OAKE CP HIGHER COMMON ST12NW OAKE CP HIGHER COMMON Blagrove's Farmhouse and 6/191 adjoining walls to North-west and South-west (previously listed under Milverton CP) 4.5.84 II* Farmhouse, Late C17, enlarged 1901. Brick, Flemish bond, on red sandstone random rubble plinth, limestone dressings,slate roof, brick stacks of circa 1900 Shallow "U'-plan facing South with 1901 projecting infill of the wings on North front. 2-storeys, and attic over basement, 1:3:1 bays, cruciform windows with semi-circular heads, except for 2 first floor windows without semi-circular heads flanking blind panel,or perhaps blocked window opening, above central doorway. 2-light openings in gable ends and leaded 2-light openings in basement flanking steps to door. 2 semi-circular almost full height projections with slate caps and 2-light openings flank the central 3 bays, having the appearance of stair turrets. These openings, the semi-circular heads to the windows and the first floor window left have all been blocked and painted to simulate glazing. The ground floor window right has been extended down. There are string courses of ashlar dividing the storeys and running below the semi-circular heads of the windows, acting as eaves coping in the centre between the gables. Central door moulded cornice, C20 partially glazed doubledoors, reached by flight of 8 steps. Left return of 2 bays, ground floor windows with blocked semi-circular heads. North front with early C20 flat roofed addition, renewed brickwork. Right return has attached stableblock, externally late C19 - early C20, but contains large fireplace and oven and maybe recasing of earlier detached kitchen. Interior: mainly dates from 1901 alterations but West wing contains late C17 bolection moulded panelled room, painted with veneer to simulate walnut with plaster leaf frieze above panelling. North-west corner contains small, late C17 staircase with flat pierced balusters rising to the attics and probably the back stairs. Whether the turrets showing on the facade actually contained staircases is unclear as they are rather shallow. The South-east one is blocked but the South-west one is open from the basement. Late C17 brick wall, with coping about 1.5 metres high extends 5 metres from North front and 3metres from South on West side. This is one of the earliest brick houses in the county and a highlv ambitious design for a farmhouse. (VA6 Report, unpublished SRO, February 1983).

Listing NGR: ST1453525641