Goitre Wen Farmhouse with adjacent Walled Yards and Garden

Goitre Wen Farmhouse is an H-plan house dating from the 18th century, constructed of local stone with a slate roof. The farmhouse comprises a front unit, a rear unit, and a linking block, all arranged parallel to each other with gable ends. Originally rendered and whitened, substantial remnants of the smooth render remain. The house is designed with its main rooms facing south towards the garden, and the entrance facing east to the farm access lane. The front elevation, facing south, has a two-window range and lacks a front door. The gabled side elevations of both the front and rear units are blank except for attic windows. Window openings are characterized by slightly cambered flat stone arch heads and stone sills. Twelve-pane sash windows are found on the ground and first storeys, while six-pane sash windows are present in the attics. The right-hand windows of the south elevation were fitted with replacement sashes circa 1920, incorporating horizontal glazing bars. The two-window link block contains the main entrance, featuring a six-panel door with a dressed stone surround and a simple cornice. The lower window to the right of the door has late 19th-century replacement sashes with two panes per sash, while the two windows above retain original 12-pane sash windows. An extension to the west side of the link block forms a single-storey scullery and lobby. The rear unit features replacement steel windows and a modern door.

Behind the house, a walled kitchen-yard contains four sheds and backs onto the stables. Attached to this yard on the west side is a second yard adjacent to the pigsties, including an earth closet with its original seat. Both yards are enclosed by high walls of rubble stonework, similar to that of the house. A walled garden, also constructed in similar masonry, is attached to the west side of the house, one side of the garden formed by the rear of the sheds and pigsties range.

Inside, the entrance hallway contains a Regency staircase with a simple, elegant design, featuring a small moulded handrail, turned newels, inch-square balusters with occasional wrought-iron balusters, and risers of oak, with other joinery in a strongly figured hardwood. A simpler servants’ staircase is located in the north range, with some balusters missing. The interior retains original detailing, including all original cast-iron fireplaces, with original slate fire surrounds featuring fluted or plain friezes in the main reception rooms and upper rooms. The attic contains minute iron firegrates. Original joinery is abundant, including window shutters and four-panel room and cupboard doors. The attic bedrooms have vault-shaped plaster ceilings, and the middle section includes a scullery with its original iron range and a bread oven.