Middle Storling

Middle Storling is a timber-framed farmhouse, dating to the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with a single-pile, one-and-a-half storey range. An 18th-century rubble stone extension was added to the east. The roofs are slate, with the earlier section’s roof continuing as a catslide over the rubble front extension; a later gabled brick extension is in the centre of the front elevation. The timber-framing is partially exposed to the rear, having been infilled with stone, weatherboarding, and iron sheeting. A large rubble stack with two offsets and a squared upper section projects from the west gable, and the surrounding wall has been rebuilt in rubble stone. Further projecting rubble stacks with a modern brick upper are found at the rear of the 18th-century portion, and a slender brick stack is to the left of the front gablet.

A partially glazed panel door is located to the left of the centre. A first-floor leaded light dates from the late 18th century, and there are two early 19th-century cross windows with small-pane glazing. Other windows are various timber casements of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Exposed beams are present in all ground floor rooms. The two rooms in the earlier, western portion each have two beams with chamfer and stepped stops arranged crosswise; a similar beam runs over the partition wall. The later end of the house has a larger, rougher, square-cut beam and exposed joists. There is a very large open fireplace to the west end room, now boarded over; the east end room features a partially reconstructed stone-lined open fireplace with a wood lintel.

The roof trusses and the upper section of the timber-framed walls are exposed in the attic rooms, showing collar and tie beam trusses with a queen post and raking struts, trenched purlins, and distinctive cambered tops to the tie beams. Stone flag flooring and some early boarded doors are also present. The building is listed for its special interest as a vernacular farmhouse, with good interior features and a spectacular, unspoiled landscape setting.