Ashen House (EHER 6980)

A 16th century timber framed house, restyled in the 18th century with 19th century additions. Timber framed and roughcast with a roof of handmade clay tiles. The frame is almost entirely concealed by plaster and panelling. A moated site.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Two-storied house with attics, walls part plastered timber-frame and part brick, with tiled roofs. Built about 1540 on an L-plan, but much altered and part rebuilt late in the 17th or early in the 18th century. Modern addition on the north side. The east end of the west wing has a hipped roof and an early 18th century dentilled cornice under the eaves. The chimneystack of the south wing is of old brick. Inside, the two main ground floor rooms have early 18th century panelling. The southern room has a fireplace with an overmantel enclosing a landscape painting. There is late 17th century panelling and carving above a doorway in the passage between the main rooms. The staircase is early 18th century. The store room in the west wing has 16th and early 18th century panelling, linenfold panelling covering the fireplace opening, there is also some old panelling in a cupboard. The bedrooms on the first floor have early 18th century panelling. <1> 16th century or earlier L-plan house, restyled in the 18th century, with 19th century additions. Timber-framed and roughcast, roofed with handmade clay tiles. 18th century doorcase, windows, panelling, late 16th century panelling. The frame is concealed by plaster and panelling almost completely but one jowled post with chamfered arch-brace is visible. Butt-purlin roof with some re-used smoke-blackened timbers. <2> Photo in SMR shows part of the house. <3> Owner's son has researched property back to mid 14th century. Present house dates from about 1542. <4> 2007. Watching brief. Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during groundworks for the construction of a new sitting room extension and a conservatory. Extending from beneath the south-west corner of the existing house was the stub of a truncated foundation, consisting of 13 courses of bricks possibly of 16th century date. The brick wall and robber trench represent the remains of a demolished structure, probably the east wall of a building that extended westwards from the south end of the existing house. Its form suggests it may have supported a timber-framed structure, likely an outbuilding of about 16th century date. Remnants of an 18th century brick drain were recorded in the western corner of the bay foundation trench. <5> See also: <6> <7>