Description

TQ 64 SE BRENCHLEY WATERMANS LANE

6/191 Biggenden Farmhouse

II

Farmhouse. Probably early C17, some C19 and C20 modernisation. Timber-
framed. Ground floor level is weatherboarded, hung with peg-tile above.
Brick stacks and chimneyshafts. Peg-tile roof.

Plan: Farmhouse faces south south west, say south. It has a 3 room lobby
entrance plan. Left (west) end room was originally unheated but was given a
projecting end stack in the C19 refurbishment. Centre room is the largest.
It was originally the only heated room; the main parlour and kitchen. Its
axial stack backs onto the left end room and front lobby entrance in front of
the stack. Right end room was the service end and it is still divided into
two by an axial wall. These rooms were probably buttery and dairy. Seondary
outshots to rear include a bakehouse, rear right, with rear lateral stack.
This could be C18. Another stack in the left rear corner of the outshots is
C19.

2 storeys with attics in the roofspace, secondary lean-to outshots to rear and
C20 single storey extension on right end.

Exterior: Front would be more or less symmetrical but for the front doorway
left of centre, a C20 plank door with coverstrips. C19 fenestration. 4
ground floor window with 2 centre 12-pane sashes and 2 outer 24-pane sashes.
3 first floor 20-pane sashes. Main roof is half-hipped both ends.

Interior: The C17 framed structure is well-preserved. The wall framing is
large framing with large curving tension braces. The larger rooms have
chamfered axial beam with step stops. Wall posts with formed jowls. Roof of
4 uneven bays; tie beam trusses with clasped side purlins. The original
fireplace is blocked but its large size is evident. House also includes some
old joinery detail such as old plank doors.

Biggenden is a well-preserved C17 farmhouse. It is unusual for the service
partition to survive.

Listing NGR: TQ6761643272

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26553766

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

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living