Site of 17th century farmhouse, Huntsmans Farmhouse (EHER 27811)

Huntsmans Farmhouse is believed to have been built during the 17th century but has been rebuilt and remodelled several times since. The brick plinth on the north, east and west elevations contains 18th and 19th century brickwork; only the south elevation has any in situ 17th century brickwork. All of the windows are 20th century casements in altered openings. Inside there are two 18th century doors and some battened 19th century doors. All fireplaces are 20th century. There is no exposed timber framing with the exception of two slight axial bridging beams. The farmhouse was listed in 1984 but recently has been de-listed because rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries and remodelling in the 20th century has diminished it's special interest.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Foxearth is a small settlement with Anglo-Saxon origins in an agricultural area of north Essex. Comparison with the historic Ordnance Survey map of 1874 shows that the farmhouse retains the same footprint. The building is said to be of 17th century date, but both the exterior and interior have been significantly remodelled in the 18th, 19th and 20th century including the insertion of window openings and the removal of the early plan-form. The house is described thus; '17th century with 18th century alterations and additions. Timber-framed and pebble-dashed plastered. Hipped red tiled roof. Two red brick chimney stacks. Two storeys. Two window range of 20th century casements. 20th century boarded door to right. Lean-to red tiled extension to left. Bridging joists exposed internally and some 18th century doors'. The brick plinth on the north, east and west elevations contains 18th and 19th century brickwork, suggesting rebuilding; only the south elevation has any in situ 17th century brickwork. Both stacks were evidently rebuilt in the 19th century. The outshot to the front is also of 19th century date and all of the windows are 20th century casements in altered openings. The three-room plan is accessed by an off-centre late 19th century entrance door immediately to the front of the 20th century straight-run stair. On the ground floor there are two, two-panelled 18th century doors, one with a HL hinge, and some battened 19th century doors. All fireplaces are 20th century. There is no exposed timber framing with the exception of two slight axial bridging beams, lightly chamfered with stops. The roof is inaccessible. Huntsmans Farmhouse, Foxearth is recommended for de-listing for the following reasons: there are few historic fixtures and fittings remaining, the building has been significantly remodelled in the 20th century; the building was substantially rebuilt in the 18th and 19th century resulting in the loss of the timber frame and earliest plan form. <1> Planning application for demolition received in Sept 2010. States that building was substantially remodelled in the 20th century with few remaining historic features. <2> See also: <3>