Early 19th century farmhouse, Park Farm, Toppesfield Road (EHER 82562)

Park Farmhouse is believed to date from the early 19th century and may have originally be known as Boyton Farm. The original building has a simple square plan with an unconnected narrow range at the north-west corner of the building. The farmhouse has been extended and remodelled during the late 19th and 20th centuries. The house is of two storeys with and attic and is built of brick with stucco render, with a hipped, slated roof and three brick chimney stacks. Inside the early 19th century plan form remains legible on the ground and first floor but the interior has been remodelled and few historic fixtures and fittings remain. The building was assessed for listing in 2010 but did not meet the required criteria.

NRHE data transfer: January 2010. Listing file. Park Farmhouse is believed to date from the early 19th century and may originally have been known as Boyton Farm, the home farm to the 16th century Boyton Hall, listed at Grade II. The Essex Record Office retains a Deed of 1817 which cites the will of John Burder, dated 19 February 1806, referring to him as the senior gentleman of Park Farm, in which he leaves the house and estate to his children as tenants in common. The property was still owned by his daughter Sarah Burder in 1855, but appears to have been occupied by tenant farmers: White's Directory records that William Death lived at the farm in 1848, followed by Stanning in 1863 and James Cropley in 1874. The Ordnance Survey maps of 1897 and 1921 indicate that the building had a simple square plan, with an unconnected narrow range at the north-west corner of the building. Although the footprint of Park Farmhouse appears little-altered between these dates, some fixtures and fittings of late 19th century date replaced earlier features. Late 20th century alterations include extensions constructed on the west and south elevations and to the north range linking it to the house. Internal remodelling is also apparent, particularly in the attic space, where rooms have been created and roof dormers inserted. A number of windows have been replaced in the late 19th century and late 20th century, and most fixtures and fittings date from these periods. A house of two storeys with an attic, erected in the early 19th century, remodelled and extended in the 20th century. A small cellar lies beneath the rear of the house. Park Farm House is brick-built with stucco render and has a hipped, slated roof with three 20th century dormers each to the south-east and north-west pitches, and three red brick chimney stacks. The façade faces south-east. A central, 19th century entrance door is approached by three stone steps; it is part-glazed with small-paned lights in the upper half. Above, there is a semi-circular fanlight with radiating glazing bars. The doorcase comprises fluted pilasters supporting a plain broken pediment. There are flush window openings, two flanking the door at ground floor and three on the first floor; the windows are 20th century sashes. The rear (north-west) elevation has a central 20th century door with a fielded and panelled doorcase and narrow hood. To the right is a slightly projecting, full-height extension of the 20th century, with small-paned sashes of the same date. To the left of the door on the first floor is an early 19th century sash window; all other windows are 20th century sashes. Linked to the rear and north elevation is the considerably remodelled single-storey range, which has been extended to include additional living space to the north and a veranda to the east. The north elevation of the house has an early 19th century sash window at first floor. The south elevation has a late 20th century, full-height extension, with large arched windows at ground floor and a sash window above. To the left, there are 20th century French windows at ground floor and a 20th century sash window above. 'Velux' windows have been inserted into the roof. The early 19th century plan-form remains legible on the ground and first floor. The principal entrance on the south-east elevation leads to a hall with an elegant early 19th century half-turn staircase. At the base, the mahogany handrail terminates with bulls-eye detail on a curtail stop, and contemporary stick balusters survive. From first to attic floors, a 20th century replica staircase has been inserted. On the ground floor, principal rooms lead from the hall; although architraves and some 6-panel doors remain, no contemporary fireplaces or decorative plasterwork survives. To the rear of the hall, a door leads to the service area which has been considerably remodelled. A batten door with latch remains and the floor has a quarry tile covering, but other fixtures and fittings are late 20th century. On the first floor the plan-form is retained, but there are no historic fixtures and fittings apart from some 19th century doors. A small enclosed winding stair, positioned between the front and rear rooms on the north side of the house, is accessed through doors which appear to lead to a wardrobe. The stairs lead from the attic to just below the first floor at present, but would have continued to the kitchen on the ground floor where their space has been converted into a discrete cupboard. The attic space, which presumably once accommodated servants' quarters, has been entirely remodelled in the late 20th century, creating modern accommodation focussed on the exposed, pegged and jointed queen-post roof, which survives largely intact and has clear carpenters' marks. The single storey range to the north, perhaps originally the wash-house and storage, has been entirely remodelled in the late 20th century and has no historic fixtures and fittings. The building is not recommended for listing because the architectural merit of the building has been compromised by additions and alterations; there are few remaining historic fixtures and fittings. <1>