Description

ASHCOMBE ASHCOMBE
SX 97 NW

8/12 Court Farmhouse

GV II

Farmhouse. Probably late medieval origins, remodelled in the late C16, late C17 and
again in the C18 when the house may have been truncated at the left end. Roof
replaced in the circa 1970s. Whitewashed rendered cob and stone ; wooden shingle
roof, replacing thatch, half-hipped at left end, gabled at right end ; rear left
lateral stack, projecting right end stack.
Plan: Overall L plan. Complex evolution. Roof timbers removed in the circa 1970s
were blackened, indicating the origins of the house as late medieval open hall. The
present plan consists of 2 rooms to the front with a short entrance passage between,
taken out of the high quality parlour or hall to the right which has C16 and C17
carpentry and a C17 rear outshut. The plainer left hand room has a probably C18
winder stair in a turret at the left end ; a second stair, contemporary with the
entrance passage, rises behind it from the right hand room. There is no obvious
original entrance and a photograph of circa 1900 in the possession of the occupier
shows the remains of the rear wall extending beyond the left end of the house
suggesting that it has been truncated at the left end, probably losing its original
cross passage and lower end room. Carpentry and joinery details suggest 3 major
building phases ; late C16 crossbeams and joists in the right hand room ; C17
fireplace lintel to the right hand room, doorframes to the outshut and one first
floor crossbeam ; probably C18 plain carpentry details and door to winder stair at
the left end. In the circa 1970s the roof was replaced and the substantial attic
storey (floor supported on good crossbeams) was enlarged.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Approximately symmetrical 3 window front with a wide gabled
porch with deep eaves. 3-light casement windows, some metal-framed C20 replacements,
with a 3-light C17 ovolo-moulded mullioned window above the porch ; similar C17
window to rear of left hand room. 1970s attic dormer to centre front.
Interior: The right hand room on the ground floor has a fine step-stopped crossbeam
with chamfered step-stopped joists, the floorboards of the first floor unplastered.
The joists project beyond the partition with the entrance passage indicating that the
passage is a secondary feature. Fireplace partly blocked but a scroll-stopped
cambered C17 timber lintel is visible : chamfered doorframe to outshut with scroll-
nick stopped jambs. Ornate timber cupboard door to left of fireplace inscribed 'is
1678' ; Cambered door lintel re-sited on partition wall at left end. The left hand
room has a rough crossbeam and possibly C18 fireplace with a plain timber lintel ; 2-
panel C18 door to winder stair. On the first floor there are C17 chamfered
doorframes with scroll nick stops to the outshut and to the right hand room which has
an ovolo-moulded stopped crossbeam and a plank and muntin screen at the left end ;
chamfered step-stopped crossbeam to left hand room.
Roof timbers entirely C20.
A multi-phase C16 and C17 house with interesting interior details.

Listing NGR: SX9135879498

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26390017

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)