Description

SWIMBRIDGE
SS 62 NW
11/172 Kerscott Farmhouse

II*

Farmhouse, now private dwelling. Probably early C16 remodelled in late C16 and
again in C17 when it was extended. Restored 1970s. Partially rendered stone
rubble and cob. Asbestos slate roof, hipped at right end. Tall rendered lateral
hall stack to front and 2 stacks to rear that to left side is rendered, that to
right side truncated. 3-room formerly open hall house, remodelled in C17 when rear
gable ended extension was added at right angles to rear and probably the shippon at
left end, which is set back slightly from the main range. Through-passage
partition to right side removed. In C20 the dairy outshut in the angle of the rear
extension was largely rebuilt to form a twin gable ended extension to the rear and
the shippon converted to form part of dwelling. 2 storeys 5-window range, a horned
sash 4 over 8 panes to left end of shippon and sash, 3 over 6 panes above 12-paned
sash to left side of new range. 2-light timber mullion window at right gable end,
otherwise C20 fenestration. C17 doorway to through-passage with slate canopy,
chamfered door surround and old 3 plank door with cover strips.
Interior: the house contains some fine interior features. The parlour on inner
room below the hall has a scroll-stopped ovolo-moulded fireplace lintel, dado
panelling to 2 sides of the room, 2 panels high with raised and fielded panels.
Fine ornamental early C17 plasterwork ceiling with enriched geometrical ribwork
with running vine pattern and sprays and fleur-de-lis to the outer tips of the
design in form of overall cross-shape with radiating squares in the angles. Hall
has a scroll-stopped ovolo-moulded fireplace lintel. Chamfered beam with large
scroll stops and chamfered bressumer at through-passage end, with some probably
reset C17 dado panelling, 2 panels high along the wall. Chamfered and scroll-
stopped durns to through-passage doorway with old 3-plank door. C17 ovolo-moulded
door surround to rear of halls with scroll-stopped durns. Room to right of
through-passage has roughly chamfered beams, and reset section of plank and muntin
screen to inserted stairs, 4 planks wide with chamfered muntins, 3 of the planks
have triple pierced lights with pointed heads. Right-hand extension to rear has
C17 straight-headed doorway with chamfered and scroll-stopped durns and chamfered
and scroll-stopped fireplace lintel. Staircase has thick turned balusters and
moulded handrail with thick turned newel to bottom of flight with acorn finial and
balustrade at head of stairs with balusters raised on plinth with newels of square
section with moulded caps. Scroll-stopped ovolo-moulded fireplace lintel to
principal chamber which has a fine late C16 ornamental plaster ceiling which has
single ribs radiating as 8 petals from foliated centre with encircling string with
alternating fleur-de-lis and spray to the tips. Plasterwork moulded cornice to all
4 walls interlocking '5' frieze. The ceiling is suspended from a collar rafter
roof structure over this chamber only with 10 rafter couples with side-pegged
collars and ties. Over the through-passage is a raised cruck truss with collar
tenoned into soffit mortices to the blades and single trenches to each blade. 2
roughly hewn pegged trusses over upper end and single C17 trusses to rear righthand
extension and shippon end with lap-jointed collars, that over shippon retains 2
tiers of trenched purlins, ridge purlin and common rafters.

Listing NGR: SS6317029405

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532713

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

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)