Description

SX 86 NW IPPLEPEN
2/113 Dornafield
-
23.8.55
GV II*
Farmhouse. Circa late C15 with early C16 and late C16 wings, modified in C17. Late
C19/early C20 outshut. Limestone rubble walls, rendered at rear. Gable ended slate
roof. Scantle slate over rear wing with C17 crested ridge tiles. 4 limestone
rubble projecting stacks : 1 at each gable end of main block, right-hand one cut off
at the top; lateral stack to front of house and at side of rear wing.
Originally 3-room and through passage plan (lower room to the left) with central
hearth, open to the roof at least over hall, passage and lower room and probably
over inner room. In early C16 a wing was added behind the inner room which was also
open to the roof with a central hearth. In the circa late C16 early C17 a rear 2-
storey block was added to the wing, parallel to the main block, which might have
extended further than it now does. In the circa mid C17 the house was floored
throughout and the position of the passage possibly slightly altered. Lateral stack
added at front of hall and side of wing, gable stack inserted to lower and inner
rooms. At this stage a stair may have been inserted at the rear of the inner room
from the evidence of the double doorway leading into it. In 1664 a 2-storey porch
was added at front of passage. In the late C17 a framed staircase was added in a
projection in the angle between hall and rear wing. There was formerly a wing at
the rear of the lower end of the house forming a courtyard at the rear (from the
evidence of an old photograph), this was demolished prior to 1922 (a postcard shows
a photograph of that date with the wing no longer in existence). This appears to
have been C17 at least. Late C19/early C20 outshut added at rear of hall and lower
end.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4-window front. First floor windows are early C20
casements with glazing bars, 4-light to left, 2-light to porch at left of centre and
the 2 right-hand ones are 3-light. On the ground floor is late C20 5-light casement
to left, C20 3-light casement to right of centre, both with glazing bars, and later
C20 2-light casement to right without glazing bars. Large 2-storey porch to left of
centre with very wide round-headed granite voussoir arched doorway with chamfered
arch and imposts and roll moulded jambs. A plaque above reads I.C. (referring to a
member of the Crossing family) 1664 and is carved on an armorial shield. On the
left-hand wall of the porch at the ground floor is a very small light with wooden
ogee-headed frame. There is an identical opening on the opposite porch wall at
first floor level. The front doorway to the house has a heavy square-headed wooden
frame, probably contemporary with the porch, which is heavily moulded with ogee
stops. C20 plank door. To the right of the doorway is a small single light window
with chamfered probably C17 wooden frame, which lights the hall and possibly acted
as a form of squint to the porch. 2-window front to wing at rear of right-hand side
with stair turret in angle with main block. At the rear of the house is a cobbled
courtyard across which is the barn (q.v.) which is attached to the small parallel
rear block.
Good interior with features from all main building phases. Over the passage and
lower end 2 original smoke-blackened trusses survive. The one over the higher side
of the passage has principals with short curved feet of large scantling with
morticed arch braced collar beam. Mortice for threaded purlin and an adjoining
mortice is likely to have been for a windbrace. Cut off at the apex above a small
yoke. The truss over the lower room consists of similar principal rafters with
morticed cambered collar. The apex is complete and a square set ridge rests on the
yoke with the principals not quite meeting above. The smoke-blackened ridge
survives for one bay to either side of this truss. All heavily encrusted with soot.
The fact that the higher truss is more ornate with its arch-bracing suggests that it
was originally directly over the hall and the passage was subsequently moved so that
it was beneath it. Over the rear wing is a 4-bay smoke-blackened roof of 3 trusses,
one of which at least has curved feet. The principal rafters have threaded purlins
and diagonal ridge, the morticed collars have been removed. Where the wing abuts
the rear block is a curved hip post, the timbers become more lightly smoke-blackened
towards this end. Over the hall and inner room is a later roof constructed of less
substantial principals with lapped and pegged collars. Rear parallel block has one
complete truss consisting of a principal with curved foot at the front and jointed
cruck at the rear. Its morticed collar has been removed. Where this block joins
the rear wing is a complex arrangement of timbers which incorporates another
principal rafter with curved foot.
Lower room has fireplace with plain, probably replacement wood lintel and has a
brick oven in the left side. Roughly chamfered cross beams and half beam above
fireplace. The former plank and muntin screen at the lower side of the passage has
been removed. At the higher side a C17 plank and muntin screen survives, which
supports the possibility of the passage having been moved. The muntins have bead
mouldings. Both passage and lower room have slate slab floors. The hall fireplace
has an ovolo moulded wooden lintel and there is a similarly moulded cross beam. A
thick wall separates the hall and inner room and at its rear end is a double round-
headed arched doorframe, the rear doorway now blocked. It is possible that this has
been moved from an earlier screen but if insitu it is conceivable that the rear door
originally led to stairs. At the rear of the hall leading into the wing is a heavy
simply moulded probably C18 doorframe with contemporary 2-panel door. Beyond it in
a projection is a late C17 framed staircase with large square newels that have
rounded caps, moulded handrail and closed string. The square balusters are probably
replacements of turned ones. Beyond the stairs a contemporary or slightly later 2-
fielded panel door leads into the room in the rear wing. On the landing reached by
the C17 staircase are several contemporary 2 moulded-and-fielded panel doors. The
rear parallel block has been subdivided but chamfered cross beams with hollow step
stops are in both parts partly obscured by the dividing wall.
The home was reputedly besieged by General Fairfax during the Civil War.This
building was evidently an important house in the area and has had a complex
evolution with a substantial part having been destroyed. Its interest lies in the
variety of good quality internal features and the attractive traditional facade
whilst the survival of 2 different consecutive early roof structures is of
particular importance.

Listing NGR: SX8396768291

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536141

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

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)