Lower Cockhill Farmhouse, With Mounting Block 5 Metres West

ST6231 7/58

CASTLE CARY CP COCKHILL

Lower Cockhill Farmhouse, with mounting block 5 metres west

13.8.75

GV II*

Farmhouse of two dates, now two houses. North section C18, south section late C15/early C16. North house of Doulting stone cut and squared, south in Cary stone rubble, some squared; asbestos cement slates to both roofs, with coped gables to north house; brick chimney stacks. North house of 2 storeys, 3 bays; steel casement windows apparently in earlier openings, 2 and 3-lights; central boarded door with glazed panel in heavy frame under timber and tile porch hood: interior not seen. South house of 2 storeys, 4 bays random fenestration. A variety of casement windows of various dates; that to upper bay 1 a C18 3-light leaded casement; upper bay 2 is a half timbered projecting jettied gable, with C20 2-light window, the outer timber work restored in 1984. Rear wall has small area of cobs in this elevation currently blocked. Inside plan of 3-rooms with cross-entry into north room, the front door of C20 pattern and rear now blocked; plain chamfer beams with shallow step and runouts; stairs a replacement against rear wall; to first floor two doorways with cambered arched heads in wooden frames; the central jettied room, possibly a small chapel, had wattle and daub infill to timber frame; 4-panelled ceiling with deep but thin moulded beams, centre rose boss and fleurs-de-lys in corners, timber boards to panels; wall paintings were discovered in 1975 on the north wall - these were removed for restoration in 1984: mostly red and blue, there is an IHS monogram with cross and crown, surrounded by a floral pattern; some partition walling, wattle and daub and plank and muntin, survives; roof frame of arch-braced collar trusses developing from raised crucks, with two rows of curved windbraces, and considerable smoke blackening. Property undergoing extensive restoration (January 1985) but this should not affect the grading given above. Five metres west of the later house is a stone 3-step mounting block. (VAG Reports, unpublished SRO, 1974, 1980 and 1983).

Listing NGR: ST6252531177