Description

ACTON

1651/0/10001 The Old Farmhouse, Village Farm
05-JUL-02

II

House and attached service building, formerly 2 dwellings, and empty at the time of inspection (June 2002 ). Mid -C18, incorporating earlier fabric, enlarged and remodelled early C19, further altered C20. Red brick with cut brick decoration , ridge and gable brick stacks and a plain tile roof covering.
PLAN: L-shaped range forming northern boundary of farmyard, with 3-storey part to west, aligned east-west and with 2 storey bay to east end forming link with 3-bay 2 storey part to west, aligned north-south.
EXTERIOR: West range of 3 1/2 bays, the east bay a 2-storey link with single storey lean-to , now partly demolished, extending across the east bay of the taller range. This has 2 windows to each storey, the lower openings with segmental arched brick heads, the upper floor openings with flat heads and 3-light casement frames, one with leaded cames, the other with glazing bars. Other openings retain fragments of similar joinery. Complex decorative brick eaves cornice. Arch-headed doorway to west end bay with plank door, plain central doorway and east end doorway giving access to both 2 and 3 storey parts. Rear wall with openings to ground and first floors, mostly blocked, and with rear doorway to west bay. 2 storey bay to east with ground floor enclosed within C19 lean-to with single 2-light casement with glazing bars above. East range of 3 bays, with east- facing front with doorway to centre bay with 4-panel door, and stacked 3-light casements with glazing bars to each bay, those to the ground floor below arched heads. The upper floor openings with flat heads below a dentilled brick eaves.
INTERIOR: 3 storey part with contemporary roof structure comprised of 3 pegged oak king post trusses with primary and secondary struts supporting 2 tiers of trenched purlins. Trusses 1 and 3 are infilled and plastered, and have seatings for nailed studs which survive with brick infil at the east end. The upper floor has no ceilings and is open to the roof. The first floor has numerous closely-spaced tie beams and inserted plank partitions. The ground floor rooms each have paired ceiling beams aligned east - west, with exposed joists. The half bay to the west has an inserted bead oven with domed oven chamber. At the junction of 3 and 2 storey parts, back-to back hearths, that to the east with cast-iron C19 range. 3 storey part with off-centre back-to back hearths, that to the centre bay with deeply moulded and chamfered hearth beam . Ground floor rooms each with paired ceiling beams, some with complex C16 or C17 chamfer stops. Upper floor part of partition wall to north bay with exposed timber-framing.
HISTORY: The 3-storeyed part is believed to have ceased to be used as a dwelling house c.1820.

An evolved farmstead range made up of 2 interconnected former dwellings, now one complex made up of house and attached service range, the latter a mid- C18 dwelling possibly adapted for multiple occupation by farm workers, the former retaining elements of an earlier timber-framed dwelling. The complex retains interior fabric and fittings which relate to both its chronological and functional evolution.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26642876

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

• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)