Description

AWLISCOMBE SY 10 SW

5/10 Wadhayes Farmhouse 22.2.55

GV II*

Farmhouse. Late Medieval origins, modernized and probably extended in 1621 (datestone), some C18 refurbishment, some minor C20 alterations. Roughcast, probably stone rubble; red pantile roof, hipped at the left end, gabled at the right end (probably formerly thatched); right end stack and 2 axial stacks, all with brick shafts. Plan: Complex evolution. The present arrangement is U plan: a south-facing main range, 3 rooms wide with a throughh passage to right of centre and rear left (west) and right (east) crosswings at right angles to the main range. A small yard to the rear (north), between the crosswings, is closed on the north side by a C17 farmbuilding (separately listed q.v.). The core of the main range is a late Medieval (late C15/early C16) open hall house of high quality of which 3 smoke-blackened arch braced trusses survive over the higher (west) end. A date of 1621 is carved over the front (south) door of the passage which is flanked by mullioned windows matching the doorframe. The date may refer to a general modernization, probably the flooring of the hall and introduction of chimney stacks (the hall stack backing on to the passage), as well as the doorframe and mullioned windows. The lower (east) end, probably extended at the same time, seems to have functioned as the principal parlour after 1621, judging from the size of the window, but was subsequently used as a kitchen, the adjoining dairy crosswing could be an C18 addition. The history of the higher (west) end is more complex. The crosswing at this end is of at least a C17 date (exposed carpentry on the ground floor), but the west end room of the main range is plain, suggesting some rebuilding, possibly in the C18. An C18 date is likely for the rear axial passage between the crosswing and the through passage: this has reduced the size of the centre room in the main range and partitioned it off from the winder stair that rises on the rear (north) wall. A possibly C17 archway gives access to the narrow north courtyard between the house and a C17 farmbuilding parallel to it. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window south front. The C17 front door to the through passage has a moulded Beerstone frame with a Tudor arch and moulded spandrels. The name John Parris, is carved in Gothic letters on the lintel with the date of 1621. The porch is most unusual : an open timber structure on posts with a flat lead roof concealed behind a deep moulded cornice, the posts (C20 replacements) support C17 Tudor arched lintels with moulded spandrels. The lintels and cornice appear to be C17 but the form of the porch looks early C19 as does a timber frieze which covers the junction between the cornice and lintels. The soffit of the porch roof is boarded with probably Medieval Gothic blind tracery. The 2 Beerstone ground floor windows are almost certainly 1621, the right hand window is 6 lights with ovolo-moulded mullions and a hoodmould with label stops. A matching 4-light window to the left has a king mullion and hoodmould with label stops. The 3 first floor windows are late C20 timber casements. There are pigeon holes on the right return of the range end, adjoining the north east wing, a section of stone rubble wall encloses the rear (north) courtyard with a Tudor arched probably early C17 stone doorframe with a keystone. Interior: The left hand (west) end only inspected at time of survey. The rooms to the left of the passage and the north-east crosswing have exposed chamfered ceiling beams of a C17 date. An C18 cupboard with fielded panels indicates an C18 or earlier date of the axial passage to the rear of the main range. A wide winder stair rises from this passage. The right hand room, not fully seen at time of survey (1987) has exposed crossbeams and an open fireplace. Roof: A high quality Medieval roof survives over the left hand (west) end of the main range. 3 massive, heavily-sooted, arch-braced trusses with chamfered braces and peaked collars. The trusses are some form of cruck construction but the principals are plastered-over in the first floor room so the type of cruck was not apparent on survey. The trusses have triangular strenghtening pieces below the apex and a diagonally-set ridge and are unsual in that each principal has a neat face-pegged scarf joint above collar level. The purlins and rafters are intact. Flanking the inserted axial stack, on each side of the ridge, a horizontal timber is fixed between 2 adjacent rafters with a mortise joint. The roof is particularly heavily encrusted with soot at this point and it seems likely that the 2 horizontal timbers are part of a medieval arrangement for smoke escape. Over the right end of the house the roof appears to be an C18 replacement. An exceptionally interesting large house of Medieval origins, the Medieval roof carpentry of a particularly high quality. The mullioned windows, doorframes and porch are unusual survivals annd the evolved plan form, including the early farmbuilding, reflects stages in the development of the house from the circa early C16 to the C18.

Listing NGR: ST1363203173

External Links

• Wikidata Q17546730

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Recommended Books

• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability