Details
SAFFRON WALDEN
TL53NE WALDEN ROAD, Sewards End
669-1/4/386 (North side)
01/11/72 No.9
Hopwoods Farmhouse
II
House. Early C16 with late C16 cross-wing, small C18 additions
at E end, C20 W wing and rear additions. Timber framing
plastered, red brick, slate roofs. Plan L shaped but with C20
further additions. 2 storeys.
Front S elevation: long range with central doorway and stack
behind ridge, jettied cross-wing at W end, further C20 gabled
block to W deeply set back. Old units, ground floor, 2 plain
C20 doors with glazing, 2 C19 3-cant bay windows (1 under
jetty), sashes with glazing bars, 2x4, 3x4, 2x4 panes. C20
2-light casement window, with leaded glazing at E end. Jetty
brackets exposed. First floor, 4 windows (2 with moulded
architraves), comprise 2 C19 sliding sashes 6x3 panes, one C19
casement 3x3 panes, one C19 sash 4x4 panes. C20 block, 2 first
floor windows to match with glazing bars. Rear N elevation:
long range with large central stack through roof pitch. E end,
rear outshut with catslide roof and small flat-roofed section
with 2-light casement window 4x2 panes. To W, gable of
cross-wing with first floor C19 sash window 3x4 panes, C20
brick on ground floor, extended to E with 2-light casement
window, similar window above in C20 flat roofed extension from
C19 gable. To W, broad C20 gable of added wing projecting and
jettied over timber posts. 2 C20 casement windows and boarded
door, sash window on first floor matching one in adjacent
gable. E end elevation: old house end with projecting wall
plates, lean-to with catslide roof to N, 4 C20 casement
window, one of 5 lights. W end elevation: C20 conservatory to
C20 addition, C19 external stack at SW angle between jettied
block and C20 work.
INTERIOR: framing of main early C16 range, 5 bays with
additional C18 bay at E end. Framing originally open on ground
floor with arch braced binding joists. Stack c1700, inserted
within structure, now with iron band supporting segmental
arched ground floor fireplace to E. First floor framing has
partition framing behind (to W) of stack with nailed tension
bracing. Bracing position suggests doorway through originally.
Rear wall has 3-light diamond mullioned window and remains of
another with shutter rebates. Halved and bridle-butted scarf
joint in front and back wall plates. Cross-wing of 2 bays
probably later, evidence much obscured but some studding and
posts of central truss evident. Rear of wing extended in C19.
The building appears to have begun as something other than an
ordinary house, being completely open on the ground floor yet
having an upper floor of 2 rooms and no evidence of a stack.
Listing NGR: TL5651638168
