Kentish Farmhouse (EHER 29138)

Farmhouse constructed about 1500 with later alterations and additions. It originally had a half-H plan, with the wings extending towards the south, but the west wing has been demolished.

NRHE data transfer: Kentish Farm (NAT). <1> Kentish Farmhouse (formerly listed under Toppesfield Road). House of about 1500 or earlier, with later alterations and additions. RCHM 38. Grade II. <2> Kentish Farm, house and barn. The house was built probably about 1500, the plan of the upper storey then forming a half-H with the wings extending towards the south, but the west wing has been demolished. At the east end of the south front the upper storey projects and is gabled, and there is a corresponding gable at the east end of the north elevation. Inside the building are shaped wall-posts, and in the wing is a blocked window, probably original, of two lights with ovolo-moulded mullions. The roof of the wing retains an original king-post truss. <3> 2003. Building survey. Kentish farmhouse was described by the RCHM as formerly being a double crosswing, with the high end crosswing demolished. A door position in the west wall (high end) confirms this assumption. However the service wing has open trusses both to ground and first floor and not the more usual division into two service rooms at ground. The cross wing roof is of crown post construction: having chamfered edges, foot braces to tie and thick braces to collar purlin, all consistent with a mid 15th century date. The upgrading of the hall in the late 16th to early 17th century is typical with the insertion of a stack into the cross entry and the hall floored. The latter was achieved using binding joists (chamfered with lambs tongue stops) taken through as anchor beams. The common joists are housed in two axial beams and at the perimeter of the building lodged into a chamfered clamp. The open halls roof has been replaced although some smoke discolouration remains on the west gable wall. <4>