Abbots Farmhouse (EHER 28637)

Early 16th century timber-framed house.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Abbot's Farm [NAT]. <1> Abbot's Farmhouse. House of the 16th century, altered in the 18th century. RCHM 14. Grade II. <2> Abbot's Farm, house, was built late in the 16th century on an L-shaped plan with the wings extending towards the south and west. The original chimney-stack has three octagonal shafts. Inside the building are original cambered tie-beams, morticed for the former queen-posts. <3> 2003. Survey. House comprising two main builds, one range to north aligned east-west and one to south aligned north-south. The north range, two bays of long wall jettied structure with bay to east an open frame, suggesting originally at least 3 bays. No evidence of internal divisions survive. The bridging and binding joists have unusually deep, 3 inch chamfers without stops. Evidence survives of two adjacent doors under the jetty, one set against the central storey post. A three centred door head remains. A knife cut assembly mark survives on the door head and dividing door jamb. At first floor there is an edge halved and bridled scarf in the S wall plate. The posts to the jetty are jowled top and bottom to accommodate the wall plate and jetty bressummer. The gable to the front has been cut back to accommodate the roof slope of the adjacent range. The roof retains the remnants of a crown post with hip and gablet to rear. The crown post has chamfered corners and thin section longitudinal braces. All features present are consistent with an early 16th century date. The south range consists of three bays, defined a stack, hall and service bays. Frame comprises pegged close studding a diamond mullion window survives in the south gable-end. The hall is divided from the service by a studwork partition with a door against the rear wall. The studs are scribed I to V with the V on the centre post. No assembly marks. The house was probably a lobby entrance. At first floor the storey posts are jowled, the west plate joined by an edge halved and bridled scarf. The roof has been replaced but reuses timber from the earlier crown post roof. The north range is unusual in plan and is more akin to a public building than one of domestic use. There is evidence in the form of two sets of carpenters marks that the building was moved. The unification of the two ranges resulted in a lobby entrance house of late 16th to early 17th century. <4>