Description

ST 01 SW
8/181
5.4.66

UPLOWMAN
Gatehouse with bridge and stable block adjoining west of Widhayes Farmhouse

GV
II*

Gatehouse and stable block. Early C17, bridge added in mid C18, refurbished in the
late C19. Plastered cob on stone rubble footings; gateway is red sandstone
conglomerate rubble with purple-coloured volcanic ashlar detail; slate roof,
probably thatch before the C19.
Plan: gate house and stable block under the same roof. The building is alongside
the lane on a roughly east-west axis with the gatehouse to east between the kitchen
wing of the farmhouse and the stable block. The gatehouse faces north onto the lane
and the stable block faces south onto the farmyard. The gatehouse has a room over
the carriageway although this appears to be secondary; originally it was only a
gateway. The stables have a hayloft over and was substantially rebuilt in the C19.
In the mid C18 a stream was made to run along the outside of the farmhouse and
farmyard and a small bridge was built across it from the lane to the gateway.
Exterior: the gatehouse has a most impressive early C17 front. It contains a large
round-headed arch with moulded surround and hoodmould. Above it is a stone plaque
with moulded frame. Any inscription on it has since worn off. It is gabled with
ashlar coping. The gateway still contains the original oak door; a fine piece of
craftsmanship. It contains a central round-headed wicket door. For the most part
it is decorated with rows of regular studded rusticated oak blocks with chamfered
edges. The main door has a shell head and the head of the wicket has a lozenge-
shaped plaque in its head. It is complete with original wrought-iron fittings. In
front is the bridge over the stream; a small segmental arch with plain parapet each
side and pitched cobble floor.
The lane side of the stable block is blind. The farmyard front has 2 double
doorways each with a casement window with glazing bars alongside to right. At
hayloft level there are 3 more casements and a loading hatch. Under the eaves are 2
rows of pigeon holes above a slate ledge. These are carried round the left (west)
end under the eaves of the hipped roof. On the inside of the carriageway there is a
small early C17 studded oak door.
Interior: the stables has plain C19 crossbeams and queen strut truss roof. The C19
stalls still survive.
This is an attractive building. The gateway with its original door is a remarkable
survival. The owner possesses a good set of documents relating to the farmhouse
including the bill for the erection of the bridge.

Listing NGR: ST0036914525

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17531419

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

• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings