Description

CHRISTOW DRY LANE, Christow
SX 88 NW
2/102 Pale Farmhouse
11.11.52
GV II
Farmhouse. Late medieval origins, remodelled in the late C16/early C17 in two
phases, barn at right end converted to domestic use in the late C20. Colourwashed,
rendered cob and stone ; bitumen painted slate roof (formerly thatched), gabled at
ends ; projecting left end stack with rendered shaft, axial stack with rendered
granite shaft, stack to front of ridge at right heating converted barn.
Plan: A late medieval open hall house in origin, remodelled as a 3 room and through
passage plan house in the late C16/C17, lower end to the left, hall stack backing
onto passage. Both ends of the house appear to have been floored before the hall and
the chamber over the inner room jetties into the hall.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5 window front, the right end a former barn. C19
half-glazed front door to through passage to left of centre with a C20 gabled porch.
2- and 3-light timber casement windows with glazing bars except for one 4-light
window to right of porch with internal timber mullions.
Interior: Impressive survival of C16 and C17 features. The granite ashlar back of
the hall stack with plinth and cornice shows in the passage which has exposed joists;
rear door blocked. A piece of C19 painted glass with armorial bearings, said to be
those of the Archer family;has been re-sited in the passage following its discovery
behind some panelling. The hall has a good open fireplace with granite jambs and
lintel, a chamfered step-stopped crossbeam with scratch-moulded joists and a higher
end jetty with a moulded jetty beam. A trimmer beam in front of the fireplace
divides a section of the ceiling with plain joists adjacent to the fireplace lintel
from a section of the ceiling with scratch-moulded joists. Oak plank and muntin
screen at the higher end with chamfered muntins stopped off at hall bench level. A
cobbled floor is said to survive beneath the present hall floor. The lower end, to
the left, has a large chamfered axial beam mortised into a deeply chamfered half-beam
against the partition wall with the passage. A separate half-beam to the rear may
indicate the position of a former stair ; C20 fireplace said to conceal larger
fireplace with a damaged timber lintel. On the first floor closed partitions rise
above the lower end/passage partition and the inner room/ hall jetty, the former
incorporates a fine and unusual first floor plank and muntin screen, with chamfered
muntins in the left end first floor room and an original doorframe. (Inner room not
inspected at time of survey).
Roof: Apex not inspected at time of survey but a side-pegged jointed cruck truss
survives over the hall, close to the position of the inserted hall stack, smoke-
blackening said to be visible at the apex (information from owner), and the roof
timbers are likely to be of special interest.
Pale Farmhouse is said to have been the home of the Archer family since the C12.
A fine house of medieval origins ; the first floor oak screen is especially unusual.
Group value with Pitt, Wells and Strongs cottage.

Listing NGR: SX8305685322

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26457448

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

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)