Highams Farmhouse (EHER 39215)

A house, originally built in around 1400, altered in the late 16th century and extended in the 19th century. The original build is timber framed and plastered, and roofed with handmade red clay tiles. The later builds are from red brick, partly plastered, and the roofs are tiled and slated.

February 1987. Grade II* listed. A house, originally built in around 1400, altered in the late 16th century and extended in the 19th century. The original build is timber framed and plastered, and roofed with handmade red clay tiles. The later builds are from red brick, partly plastered, and the roofs are tiled and slated. It comprises a two-bay hall facing south-west and a formerly storeyed service bay to the left; a two-bay parlour/solar crosswing to the right; a single-storey-and-attics hall range; and a two-storey crosswing. The crosswing extended to the rear, forming an 'L-shaped' plan, with an 18th century dairy in the rear left angle. There are smaller 19th century extensions to the left and rear of the dairy, and a large mid 19th century extension to the right of the crosswing, forming a 19th century entrance front to the south-east, with a central porch. Highams was a manor; no history is recorded before Robert Higham, who died in 1427, and the present house may date from his time. It remained in the Higham family until 1545. <1> See photos <2>. Highams farmhouse, around 1400, extended late 16th century and 19th century. <3> <4> NRHE data transfer: Higham's Farm [NAT]. <5> Higham's Farm is listed as a moated site in the Blackwater Region. <6> See EHER 16391.