Horsey Manor Farm

Horsey Manor Farm is a former farmhouse of late 16th-century date with early 19th-century alterations, accompanied by attached farm buildings including a barn, converted dairy and converted stables dating from the 17th century onwards. An L-shaped agricultural range to the north west of the house, dating from the 19th century and modernised in the 20th century, is not of special interest.

The principal range of the house is two storeys with a four-cell plan and a cross passage, defining the south west side of a courtyard. On the north west side of the yard is a two-storey range (now the west wing) and a single-storey range converted to domestic use. To the north east stands a barn, and on the south east side is a single-storey range with an attached lean-to of concrete blocks (not of interest) and a one-and-a-half-storey former dairy forming the east wing.

The farmhouse dates principally from the late 16th century. The roof was raised and the building re-fenestrated, probably in the early 19th century. It is constructed in coursed blue lias to the lower half and red brick above first-floor cill level, with rendered walls. The roof is double Roman tile with brick end chimneystacks and an off-centre ridge stack. Fenestration comprises mostly 19th-century sash windows to the front (south west) and casements elsewhere, though a late 16th-century two-light mullioned window survives, now visible only within the house. The two rear wings were originally agricultural buildings; the east wing was formerly a dairy with cheese loft at first floor, built of blue lias, whilst the mid-to-late 19th-century west wing is brick-built and was probably a stable block with hay loft or apple store above.

The main south west elevation is two storeys presenting a five-window range with a central entrance doorway flanked by square-headed rectangular window openings. A kneeler set low in the south east gable wall evidences the original roof height before 19th-century raising. Beyond lies the former dairy with a three-light casement window and inserted roof-lights to its south east elevation. The rear elevation has a lean-to addition of stone possibly a former bake house. A veranda with timber post support runs the length of the rear elevation and continues along the right return. The west wing is two storeys.

Internally, the wide entrance passage has a timber staircase to the first floor and, in the rear wall, a timber two-light mullioned window possibly marking an earlier staircase position. The two right-hand rooms both have open fireplaces with stone jambs and heavy lintels, and late 16th-century compartment ceilings with plain beams with deep concave chamfers. The two rooms are divided by a 21st-century timber screen. The far left-hand room has an open fireplace with a curing chamber and oven. At first floor, the right-hand bedroom retains an open fireplace and evidence for a former winder stair at the north east corner. A timber-framed partition divides this room from the next. The front range roof is carried on king post trusses, consistent with an early 19th-century date.

The courtyard barn is built of brick on a stone plinth with a pantile roof. Rectangular on plan, an 1836 map depicts a central south west projection possibly a porch. The interior has a pegged timber partition appearing re-used, and a roof of simple collared trusses with a single row of purlins. To the south east is a section of substantial cut and coursed stone walling running between barn and house, possibly remains of a boundary wall or earlier building, now forming the rear (east) wall of an outbuilding. A lean-to addition of concrete blocks is built against its south east side (not of special interest). The single-storey range defining much of the north west courtyard side is attached to the east wing and was formerly stables, built of brick with a timber louvered ridge ventilator. This range has been converted to residential use and has not been inspected internally.

Horsey Manor Farm has occupied its site since at least the 13th century, possibly as the manor house or home farm associated with the medieval settlement of Horsey, known from the Domesday Book of 1086. The principal farmhouse is late 16th-century with later rear wings, undergoing remodelling in the early 19th century when the roof was raised and the building re-fenestrated. At this time the house appears to have been downgraded to a yeoman's house, probably for tenant farmers. The attached farm buildings forming a north east courtyard appear to date largely from the 17th century onwards, though some likely occupy positions of earlier buildings.