Description

TM 03 NE GREAT WENHAM OFF CHURCH ROAD (EAST
3/70 SIDE)

22.2.55 Priory Farmhouse

GV II*

House, C15 or earlier with later alterations and additions including C16 wing and
chimney stack dated 1699. timber framed and plastered, exposed frame to first
floor of west wing. Off centre left chimney stack to hall. Large square
chimneystack between the right gabled wings, stack with moulded base and capping,
2 round headed arches with geometric panel below and date 1699. Hall, one storey
and attics, left cross wing, 2 storeys, right crosswing and gabled extension
crosswing, 2 storeys and attics. Gable dormer to hall. 1:2:2:1 window range of
various small paned casements and vertically sliding sashes, louvred window to
ground floor of left crosswing which retains a C19 dairy. Recessed porch to
right crosswing, 6 panelled door, moulded surround, segmental head to rayed
fanlight. There is a single storey lean-to extension to left return of this
crosswing. Internally much of the original frame is concealed by later
decorations, but little has been altered this century. The left crosswing is
till in use as the scullery with quarry tiled floor, original arches to fireplace
and bread oven. Internal pump. Very large brick and stone sink. Brick copper.
C18 corner cupboard. Servants bells. Nailed vertically boarded doors lead into
the dairy and game larder and a similar door leads into the original hall. The
only visible features in the hall are a heavy chamfered bridging joist to
probably inserted ground floor ceiling and a halved and bridled top plate scarf
in the bedroom above. Entrance hall in the right crosswing with Victorian
coloured tiled floor and archway. Fine C17 well staircase with moulded string,
heavy turned balusters and newels with turned finials, moulded handrail. Nailed
and moulded door with original strap hinges to attic newel stairs. Butlers
pantry to right of entrance hall. the drawing room and bedroom over in the
extension right crosswing have fine plaster ceilings, circa 1600, that in the
Drawing room of 4 panels divided by a moulded and enriched bridging joist and
moulded cross straps, similar straps connect the panels to walls and cross
straps. The panels of scroll and jewel work in moulded rectangular frames with
enriched centres. The bedroom ceiling is similar but the larger scrollwork
panels have no frames, side straps or jewel motifs, instead there are many
pendant acorns. There is a moulded fire surround with corner patera and blue
Delft tiles. Backing this fireplace in the adjacent bedroom is a similar
fireplace but with brown tiles depicting the four seasons, cast iron grates. The
attic of the right extension crosswing retains the original floor boards, jowled
storey posts and side purlin roof with cambered collars. Collars framed and
pegged with 2 pegs each side. The left crosswing of 2 bays with jowled storey
posts appears to be C15 with heavy close set wall studs. Original floor boards
to this crosswing bedroom.

Listing NGR: TM0726038174

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17534700

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House