Description

SJ 40 NW
4/224

PONTESBURY CP
PLEALEY
Brookgate Farmhouse

02.07.71

II*
Farmhouse, now derelict. C14 or C15, extended and re-modelled c.1600 with later additions and alterations. Timber-framed, partially of cruck construction now largely encased in red brick, plain-tile roofs. Originally a two-bay open hall with a service bay at lower (west) end, floored over c.1600 and with an axial ridge stack inserted at lower end of hall; simultaneously or possibly a little later a four-bay cross-wing was added to left and a two-bay kitchen range to rear on right, forming the present U-plan. Two storeys and attics; framing: largely obscured by brick casing and plaster, but rear gables are close-studded with V-struts from upper collar to left; projecting left-hand gable to front, which is crow stepped, has one range of mid-C19 casements with segmental arches; flush right-hand gable also has mid-C19 casements to ground and first floors off-set to left; mid-C19 four-panel door with console bracketed hood in line with axial red brick ridge stack to left and plain four-panel door to right gable without hood.

INTERIOR: timber frame (close studding and square panelling) substantially intact throughout; massive chamfered spine beams to hall range on ground floor with heavy joists and ogee chamfer stops; the front room of the left-hand cross wing has a cross-beamed ceiling also with ogee chamfered stops and later moulded plaster infill; large stack with infilled inglenook fireplace; cellar beneath rear room of cross-wing; smoke-blackened roof structure visible upstairs and in attic; three true cruck trusses with upper and lower collars and Alcock apex type E, the westernmost arch-braced with a cusped spere truss from the collar; the cross wing has a chamfered double-purlin roof with tie and collar beams and straight wind braces; there is a well in the kitchen and a mid-C19 dairy to rear. A cast-iron fireback dated 1638 with the initials "R.P.E.", for Richard and Elinor Peers, formerly in the house has now been removed.

The house is graded II* on account of the completeness of the medieval and later timber frame.

Listing NGR: SJ4250906913

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17550989

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: Updated version
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)