Combe Farm

Combe Farm is a former farmhouse built in the 17th century with 18th and 20th century additions, located on the south side of Combe Lane in Aller.

The building is constructed of coursed and cut local Blue lias stone with Hamstone dressings to the principal range, while the rear wing is brick. The roof is tile-covered, though it was previously thatched. The gables are coped and the gable end stacks are brick, though these have been rebuilt.

The house is arranged as a two-storey building with attics, organised around a central cross passage. The main range comprises two rooms, with a rear wing that was formerly a dairy and now contains a garage at ground floor level with accommodation above. At the west end of the main range is a single-storey structure, and a further stone-built structure stands at the north-west corner; both of these appear to have been outbuildings that were later incorporated into the house. A 20th century extension has been added along the west and north-west sides, which is not of special architectural interest.

The south-facing principal elevation has three bays, featuring hollow chamfered mullioned windows of four lights with rectangular leaded panes on both floors. A central entrance has a flat-headed surround with rounded corners and a flat-moulded stone hood supported on console brackets. A continuous string course runs above the ground floor windows and continues into the porch hood. Two late 20th century dormer windows have been inserted into the roof. The lean-to structure to the far left may represent a surviving portion of an earlier house. The rear elevation has a timber square-headed doorframe and a timber three-light transomed window to the first floor.

Internally, the principal range is divided by the cross passage, which has two axial ceiling beams and retains two heavy plank doors at either end. The room to the right contains a large open fireplace with a Hamstone surround with moulded jambs, possibly re-used from an earlier building. The room to the left has a large open hearth with a chamfered bressumer and a chamfered ceiling beam with rounded step and run-out stops. A late 20th century staircase leads from this room to the first floor. Beyond the left-hand room is the kitchen, which has a framed ceiling of substantial deeply chamfered beams; it is unclear whether these timbers are re-used or whether the lean-to structure represents the remains of an earlier house. Two of the first floor bedrooms retain small fireplaces with Hamstone surrounds resting on brick jambs, both of which may be later additions. The roof structure, dating from the late 18th or early 19th century, comprises collared trusses with tie beams and threaded purlins; some rafters have been renewed.

To the west of the house stands a stone-built outbuilding, possibly a stable block, retaining historic fabric. It has a central stable door flanked by single-light openings.

Documentary sources suggest that a house on the site was occupied by Robert le Combe in 1322. In 1665, Combe Farm was recorded as the largest tenement in Aller, with the exception of the Manor House.