Late 19th to early 20th century model farm, Gipsy Corner Farm (EHER 40760)

Late 19th to early 20th century planned farm. Recorded prior to conversion in 2012.

2008. Field survey. Planned Farm buildings built c.1897-1920 on Chrishall Common for stock rearing. The planned farm adopts a rectangular courtyard plan with single and two storey yellow brick and slated ranges arranged around a central courtyard. Accessed by a covered carriageway from roadside, the courtyard was formerly divided into two stock yards, with open shelter sheds and cattle houses to each yard. Stock rearing has since ceased and the present planned farm buildings remain in use but in a secondary non-farming capacity. The farm now concentrates on arable and is a rambling collection of modern buildings built either side of the Chrishall Road. <1> 2012. Building survey. A programme of building recording was undertaken on an unlisted planned farm prior to residential conversion. The farm was established in 1914 by the owners of Little Chishill manor for cattle-rearing at a time of depression in arable farming caused by a long spell of bad harvests. The planned farm is centred on a large courtyard complex comprising four yellow brick ranges orientated from south-east to north-west. Other structures are located to the northwest and south and there is a contemporary farmhouse in a separate plot to the west. The courtyard complex has a covered entrance on the south-west side and includes former open-sided cart sheds, shelter sheds and houses for cattle, bullocks and pigs, all of which have been adapted to serve other uses, which has affected the historic interiors and reduced the amount of surviving original fixtures and fittings. Of these, the most interesting are some Doulton feeding troughs. Otherwise, apart from the fabric of the buildings themselves, original features are limited to occasional doors, hatches and wall vents. <2>