Godfreys Farmhouse

Details

BROADHEMBURY LUTON ST 00 SE

4/87 Godfreys Farmhouse

GV II

House. Probably late medieval with a C17 remodelling and extension, divided into 3 cottages at one time. Colourwashed stone and cob; slate roof, gabled at left end, hipped at right end; end stacks, end stack to wing. Plan: L plan: a single depth east-facing main range, 3 rooms wide, with a rear right wing at right angles. The main range has a partial 2-storey rear outshut with a catslide roof. The main range almost certainly originated as a 3 room and through passage plan, lower end to the right (north), possibly with a late medieval open hall core. Without access to the apex of the main range roof at time of survey (1988) the open hall is unconfirmed. If it existed, the inner room was storeyed (no evidence of smoke-blackening on the foot of the inner room truss, information from the owner). The lower side partition of the through passage no longer exists and the hall stack has disappeared, this was presumably a front or rear lateral stack. The rear wing has been subdivided but was probably a large C17 kitchen wing. The present entrance is via an internal porch directly into the middle room. A stair rises from the rear of this room, turning behind a projection which may have been the C17 hall stack. Evidence of 2 other former stairs, one rising from the rear of the inner room. Exterior: 2 storeys. Approximately symmetrical 4 window front with regular fenestration; central internal porch with an outer doorway with a segmental arch. The position of the former through passage entrance is to the right of the present porch, converted to a window. 2- and 3-light casements, C20 timber with glazing bars. Interior: Rich in C17 carpentry and joinery. The hall, in the centre, has plank and muntin screens to both sides and moulded crossbeams with stops, one of the crossbeams with the front end concealed by the internal porch. The inner room, to the left, has a chamfered stopped crossbeam and a rebuilt fireplace incorporating a C17 moulded timber lintel. The lower end (right hand) room has a boxed in beam or girder and a small, probably C19 or C20 fireplace. This room incorporates the former through passage which retains a fine timber doorframe on the rear wall with a Tudor arched lintel and chamfers and stops on the rear side. The rear wing has a good set of C17 chamfered crossbeams with bar stops, interrupted by partitions which have divided the wing into smaller rooms. The kitchen fireplace survives, with a massive timber lintel. On the first floor 3 ovolo-moulded stopped C17 doorframes survive, one at the top of the existing stair, another at the top of the former inner room stair and a third, possibly resited, in the rear wing. Roof: Jointed cruck roof construction to the main range, the crucks side-pegged, the ceilings just below collar level. The feet of the hall cruck are plastered over, the feet of the inner room cruck have been exposed and stained but were not smoke- blackened. An evolved house, the interior rich in carpentry, possibly of late medieval open hall origins.

Listing NGR: ST0802502694

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

87090

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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