Knowle Manor Farmhouse

Farmhouse. It likely dates from the 18th century, and stands on the site of a medieval manor house, although it has been significantly altered in the 19th and 20th centuries. The building is constructed primarily of local stone rubble, with sections in red brick in Flemish bond and squared flintwork, and has Ham stone ashlar dressings. The roof is of plain clay tile, over stone slate base courses, hipped to the south-west, and with a stepped coped gable to the north-east, topped with a ball finial. There are brick chimney stacks. The farmhouse is two storeys high with an attic, and has four bays. The first two bays are in brick, with three-light, small-pane casement windows to all but the lower bay two, which has a five-light hollow-chamfered mullioned window with four-centred arched lights, set under a square label. Bay three is a gabled projection in squared flintwork, with a ball finial to the gable, plinth and cill courses, and a two-storey angled bay window, detailed to match the lower bay two, with wave-mould recesses and a flat roof. Bay four has a 20th-century copy of the lower bay two window and a four-light casement above, set within a brick surround. A boarded door is situated between bays one and two, under a concrete lintel, and to the left of bay four, within the angle, is another boarded door set into a stone and tiled lean-to porch. A 20th-century timber and glass conservatory has been added to the south-west gable. The top of bay three's gable and the north-east gable have been rebuilt in brick. A 18th-century extension exists at the rear, set lower than the main body of the house. The interior has been altered extensively. Previously known as Illeigh Farm, the site was part of an ancient manor whose house was first recorded in 1303.