Corfe Farmhouse and Attached Barn, Corfe, Somerset

Summary

Farmhouse and attached barn. House is late C17 with C19 additions, and the barn dates largely from the late C18 or early C19 with some later alterations.

Description

MATERIALS: Rubble stone walls of Blue Lias with slate roofs and C20 brick stacks. The fenestration comprises mostly C19 replacement timber casements, although there are several C17 mullioned windows. The barn is of similar materials with some C20 openings.

PLAN: Rectangular range of largely single depth plan with an attached barn at right angles to the north end of the house. The house underwent some upgrading in the C19 when a two storey, single bay was added at the north end. There are further later additions at the rear of the house. With the exception of the attached barn, the other former farm buildings to the east and south east are either later in date or have undergone alteration and are not of special interest.

EXTERIOR: One and a half storey house that has its principal elevation to the west, fronting the road. The asymmetrical front façade consists of four bays and appears to have been re-fenestrated in the C19. A two storey addition forms a gabled single bay to the north end of the range and dates from the C19. There is a slightly off-centre entrance with a half-glazed porch. From left to right the elevation can be described thus: the gabled addition projects forwards slightly and has a canted bay to the ground floor and a three-light casement with stone drip mould above. There is a narrow, un-glazed light to the apex. To the left of the entrance is a three-light casement window and there are two matching casements to the right of the entrance. At first floor are four similar windows. A stone lintel in the masonry to bay four probably marks the position of a former stair light. The south gable wall has been rendered and is partly obscured to the ground floor by a C20 lean-to conservatory which is not of special interest. A doorway leads into the house and, towards the south east corner, is a two-light, flat mullioned window that may date from the C17. It is unclear whether the window survives in situ. There are two window openings to the first floor.

The rear (east) elevation has an extension with a catslide roof to the left hand bay which contains a four-light, ovolo mullioned window, though this has been re-sited. To the right is a further lean-to addition with C20 window openings and a doorway. Beyond, to the right, is a C19 casement window. There is a further doorway and C20 window opening above, set within the angle formed by the north east corner of the house and the south west end of the attached barn.

The attached BARN is considered to date from the late C18 or early C19 with a later addition and some alterations. It is also built of random Blue Lias stone with a slate roof covering and a ventilation hood to the ridge. It appears to have been built in two phases, the western half being the earlier structure with opposing doors in the north and south elevations. The south entrance has a C20 concrete lintel and metal sliding door. To the right are several slit-vent openings and an opening with a timber stable door. A straight vertical joint in the masonry to the right of this doorway, and in the opposing elevation, would suggest that the barn has been extended eastwards by two bays. In this section both the north and south elevations have a round-headed doorway; that in the north wall has been blocked, and several ground and first floor openings. There are also straight joints towards the east gable end in both the north and south elevations; possibly the gable wall has been rebuilt. The west end of the north side of the barn was altered in the C20 with the insertion of a doorway and a bay window to create a retail unit in this part of the building.

INTERIOR: The front (west) entrance to Corfe Farmhouse has a moulded door surround with decorative stops to the jambs. It has a half-glazed timber door which leads into the through passage which has a C17 flat-headed doorway with run-out stops to the jambs in the north wall that leads through to the central room. This room has a chamfered ceiling beam with scroll end stops and although the inglenook fireplace has been blocked and replaced with a C20 fireplace, the original hearth survives and is visible within a cupboard inserted into the breast. The southern room, or parlour, has a deeply chamfered ceiling beam and moulded plasterwork to the cornices. Here also the large open hearth has been infilled, whilst the former winder stairs in the north west corner of the room has been replaced with a lift in the late C20. The extension at the rear of the house contains a kitchen and scullery. The room to the left of the passage is probably the former service end and contains a large, blocked hearth. The ceiling beams to this room are deeply chamfered but without end stops and it is unclear whether they are original to the house. The room has been reduced in size to create a corridor that provides access to the C19 addition and houses the staircase. This later addition has deep cornices. The fireplace is C20. A C19 stick baluster staircase with turned newel posts leads to a first floor corridor that runs the length of the house. The bedrooms are located along the front. The roof consists of largely C19 timbers with some later strengthening.

The attached BARN was originally open to the roof at its western end, although it was partly enclosed when this part of the building was converted to a retail unit. The rest of the barn is of two storeys and consists of two stalls. The ceiling above these stalls has scissor bracing to the joists, whilst the roof, although not inspected, is understood to comprise of king post trusses.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The other agricultural buildings at Corfe Farm include a single range of outbuildings at right angles to the south end of the house, a two storey barn or cow shed with hay loft above that is built of stone and brick, and a number of C20 Dutch barns. All have undergone alteration and are not of special interest.

History

HISTORY: Corfe Farmhouse forms part of the Barton Grange estate and dates largely from the late C17 with later additions. It would appear that the house underwent some refashioning in the C19 when the windows and roof carpentry were replaced, and the front porch was added. The associated farm buildings, including barns, cattle sheds and a wagon shed appear to date largely from the C19 with some C20 alterations, although some may retain earlier, possibly late-C18 fabric.

Reasons for Listing

REASON FOR DESIGNATION DECISION: Corfe Farmhouse and its attached barn are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Essentially a late C17 through passage farmhouse with attached late C18 or early C19 barn that form a cogent grouping
* The historic plan form remains readable
* They preserve a significant proportion of historic fabric in a range of local vernacular building materials
* The C19 additions do not detract from the interest of the house and barn, but add to the historical development

External Links

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