16th to 19th century farm buildings at Giffords Farm (EHER 48999)

The post-medieval farm complex was recorded in a 2017 building survey.

2017. Building survey. The available documentary evidence suggests that Giffords Farm is likely to have originally formed one of the farms associated with the medieval manor of 'Stanle alias Giffardes' in Great Sampford, recorded as being held by the Gifford family from the 12th century. Building 1 is listed and is described in EHER 36047. Building 2 is rectangular in plan and is arranged over six timber-framed bays clad externally with softwood weather-boarding. The timber frame rests upon a dwarf brick wall, the top section of which has been reworked with modern stretcher-bonded brickwork. The lower sections are constructed in orange brickwork with grey headers, laid in Flemish bond, with an offset at its base. The slated roof is half-hipped at its south end. Building 3, the barn, occupies an east to west alignment, and has an essentially rectangular footprint, with a centrally positioned wagon porch projecting on its south side. It is of three bays, constructed in brick to its lower half and timber-framed above; the latter is clad externally with softwood weather-boarding. The brickwork is orange in colour, laid in English bond, with a single off-set to the top. The east and south walls are decorated with diaper patterning using grey bricks, a technique characteristic of the Tudor Revival in the mid to late 19th century. The roof, which is covered with plain tiles, is gabled to the east and west ends. Building 4 follows an east to west alignment and faces south onto the yard, although was originally open on its north side too. It is rectangular on plan and is constructed over four timber-framed bays. It is clad externally with softwood weather-boarding. The roof is slated, and hipped at its east and west ends. The structure, building 5, which was constructed as a shelter shed for cattle, is located to the site’s northern boundary. The building is aligned north – south and forms a rectangle on plan. It is open-fronted on its east side and aisled on its west side. The structure is of timber-framed construction and is clad externally with softwood weatherboarding. The timber frame rests on a dwarf wall of pink-orange brickwork, laid in English bond. It has a hipped, slated roof, which is of relatively shallow pitch given the substantial width of the building. <1>