Late 18th to early 19th century timber framed stable, Chapel Road (EHER 81078)

A timber framed outbuilding on the Southern side of the farmyard at Pond Farm (formerly Martin's Farm). Dating to the late 18th or early 19th century, the building seems to have originated as a stable range. It is clad in weatherboarding on the North, East and South elevations, and the West elevation is built of brick. The North elevation is split by historic orange brick wall which separates the farmyard from the garden of The Grey House to the West and as a result the Western half of the building (now in separate ownership) has been rebuilt. Twentieth century lean-to extensions are also built up against this elevation, both sides of the wall.

September 2019. Heritage assessment. A timber framed outbuilding, aligned E-W on the roadside, and situated on the Southern side of Pond Farm farmyard, historically known as Martin's Farm. Dating to the late 18th or early 19th century, the building seems to have originated as a stable range. The timber frame is raised on a low brick plinth, although the Western elevation of the building, which probably faced towards the original farmhouse, is constructed entirely in brick. The timber framing of the North, East and South walls is clad with weatherboarding, a large proportion of which is historic; the early boards survive particularly well on the South and East elevations. The roof of the building is gabled to the West and fully-hipped to the East, and covered with mid to late 20th century corrugated asbestos-cement sheets. The brick-built West elevation is blank, while the East elevation contains a single rudimentary shuttered opening. The South elevation, which fronts onto Chapel Road, contains a single, modern garage door. The North elevation is essentially split into two sections by a historic orange brick wall which separates the former farmyard from the garden of The Grey House to the West, with the consequence that the Western third faced into the garden while the remainder opened into the yard. As a result, the Western half of the elevation (now in separate ownership) has been rebuilt and extended to the North with a 20th century softwood-framed lean-to extension with an asbestos sheet roof. The remaining elevation facing the yard also contains a small lean-to addition, constructed in 20th century softwood framing. The building has been substantially altered for its most recent use as garaging and workshops/stores. However, the form of construction of the building and the few surviving features, namely remnants of boarding to the internal faces of the walls and brick floor finishes incorporating a drainage channel, indicate that it was constructed as a stable range, although no fittings or stall partitions have survived. The loft above the Western half of the building, although apparently a slightly later addition, would have provided storage space for hay and possibly accommodation for stablehands, and is a typical feature of this type of building. The roof also retains evidence for a former thatch covering, which would most likely have been of longstraw. <1>