Fruitlands and length of garden wall

Summary

Farmhouse. Late C18 with later C19 and late-C20 alterations and additions.

Reasons for Designation

Fruitlands, Uphampton, a late-C18 house with late C19 and late-C20 additions and alterations, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: the building shows some understanding of classical principles in the near-symmetry of its principal façade;
* Degree of survival: despite mid-C20 and early-C21 extensions and alterations the house is a good example of late-C18 domestic architecture;
* Group value: it groups well with other listed buildings which, together, provide clear evidence for the historical development of Uphampton.

History

Uphampton is a small hamlet on a broad ridge overlooking the Severn Valley. The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1886 depicts much of its surrounding fields as orchards. Fruitlands is a late-C18 former farmhouse set within a large plot at the northern end of the hamlet. The building underwent repairs and alteration, including a small extension to the rear range, in the 1970s. At the same time the single-storey lean-to, possibly a former pigsty, attached to the rear range was incorporated into the house.

Details

Farmhouse. Late C18 with later C19 and late-C20 alterations and additions.

MATERIALS: constructed of red brick, with coursed sandstone blocks in places, under a plain tiled roofs with brick end stacks.

PLAN: it has an L-shaped plan. It comprises the late-C18 two-storey main house, a one-and-a-half storey rear range, and a single-storey former outbuilding or pigsty which was added in the later C19 and is now part of the house.

EXTERIOR: the main part of the house is of three bays and has two storeys, an attic and a cellar. Its principal elevation faces east and has a stone plinth and a dentilled eaves cornice. It has an asymmetrical façade with a slightly off-centre entrance which has a flat canopy, entablature and pilaster surround and a six-panelled door, the upper two panels of which are glazed. There is a window to either side of the doorway and three first-floor windows. The original segmental-arched windows have been replaced with horned timber sashes and the segmental-arched lintels have also been replaced with flat heads of gauged bricks. Each gabled end has a late-C20 first-floor window. To the north elevation is a shoulder chimneystack and four ground-floor windows of late C20 date, including a bow. There is also a late-C20 dormer window. The south elevation of the former outbuilding contains a C19 two-light casement and a blocked doorway to the right which has an inserted single window with coloured glass. The rear range, which was extended in the 1970s, has two late-C20 casement windows and a doorway. Its west gable end has a late-C20 window to the first floor.

INTERIOR: the front (east) door opens onto a hallway which has a late-C18 staircase with a simple, yet elegant turned newel post, inlaid, moulded cap, straight wooden balusters and a handrail of inlaid wood. Raised and fielded doors of six panels lead through to the two ground-floor principal rooms. The right-hand room has a large inglenook fireplace which was brought forwards slightly and rebuilt in brick in the 1970s, but the timber bressumer has been retained. There is also a chamfered ceiling beam and exposed joists. The wall between this room and the former pantry to the rear has been removed to create a larger room. The fireplace in the left-hand room has a decorative C19 surround which has been introduced from elsewhere. A flight of stone steps at the far end of the hall lead to the cellar which has brick floor. The rear range is a kitchen, with a utility and cloakroom beyond. The first-floor layout has been slightly reconfigured to improve access to the rooms in the rear range; the two front bedrooms have four-panelled doors. The attic staircase has been largely replaced but the late-C18 handrail and stick balusters to the landing remain. There is a common rafter roof with a single row of purlins; the latter visible in the two attic bedrooms.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURE: the north wall of the former outbuilding continues westwards to form a garden wall. Its lower courses are built of large sandstone blocks with brickwork to the upper parts, and it contains two doorways.

Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that the modern detached double garage to the north-west of the house is not of special architectural or historic interest.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

148055

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Other
Uphampton Conservation Area, Wychavon District Council, 2008

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