Description

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL54SE BUTLERS LANE
669-1/6/43 (East side)
28/11/51 Butlers Farmhouse
(Formerly Listed as:
ASHDON ROAD
Butlers Farmhouse)

II

House. c1610, probably built at same time as Audley End House
(qv) by Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, Lord Treasurer to
James I. Timber-framed and plastered, peg-tile roof. U-plan of
principal S facing range with wings at E and W ends to N. 2
storeys. Modern `front' on N side was originally the rear.
After a period of disuse, now considerably rebuilt in C20. All
windows are now C20 casements with glazing bars, doors also
C20.
S garden elevation: long range with prominent red brick
`concertina' stack, 5 shafts, off centre to W. Smaller similar
3-shaft stack to E end. 3-celled system. Ground floor, roughly
central, fully glazed French window, another to E. 4 windows,
two 3-light, one 2-light, one fixed. First floor, 5 windows,
one 3-light, three 2-light, one fixed. C20 conservatory on W
end. N, now front, elevation: stacks as seen from S. End wings
and central range have C20 ground floor lean-to, peg-tile
roofed, enclosed on central and W side, open on posts on E
side. Ground floor, courtyard, central 6-panel door with
full-height side lights, single light window to E. W return
has fully glazed door. E return `stable' double door and
3-light window. W cross-wing, 3-light window and 1 single
light in lean-to N end wall. E cross-wing, simple recessed
porch with one boarded and one fielded panel door (original
ceiling joists visible in porch soffit). First floor, central
range, two 3-light window, W wing one window of 5 lights, E
wing one 3-light and one 2-light window. Tall C20 red brick
stack set in SW angle of court. Side purlins of W wing gable
visible.
E end elevation: principal range, 1 single-light ground floor
and one 2-light first floor window. Red brick stack through
roof pitch of cross-wing. W end elevation: C20 conservatory
across main range, 3-light window on ground floor of wing.
INTERIOR: considerably rebuilt, with original room divisions
reorganised. Original joists remaining have early C17 chamfer
stops, common joists of C17 pendant soffit type. E end
cross-wing a later addition (jowled post of in-line E end
rooms remains), face halved and bladed scarf in principal
range wall-plate. In present C20 central stairway, a large
moulded plasterwork panel approx 1.5m x 0.6m in-set in
position of over-mantel to central first floor chamber (no
fireplace now). Quartered shield of arms of Howard and Knivet
with garter, supporting lions and motto set in ovolo moulded
framing with renaissance heads. RCHM Mon.7 records much more
heraldic plasterwork and painting existing in the house.

Listing NGR: TL5605240692

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26490674

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

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)