BIRDOSWALD FARMHOUSE

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Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1249314
Date first listed:: 05-Mar-1990
List Entry Name:: BIRDOSWALD FARMHOUSE
Statutory Address:: BIRDOSWALD FARMHOUSE

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Date:: 2004-06-04
Reference:: IOE01/11181/19
Rights:: © Mr Kenneth Robinson. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1249314
Date first listed:: 05-Mar-1990
List Entry Name:: BIRDOSWALD FARMHOUSE
Statutory Address 1:: BIRDOSWALD FARMHOUSE

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: BIRDOSWALD FARMHOUSE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Cumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Waterhead
National Grid Reference:: NY 61497 66293

Details

NY 66 NW WATERHEAD BIRDOSWALD

27/104 Birdoswald Farmhouse (or Birdoswald Tenement)

II

Former farmhouse, now (1988) HQ of the archaeological unit excavating the adjacent Roman site. Substantially the house built by Henry Norman in 1858, but incorporating extensive remnants of an earlier building, possibly C15 or early C16 and perhaps erected by the de Vaux family. Coursed rubble masonry, rendered on all but the rear (N) elevation; Welsh slate roofs. Plan and development: The building consists of a principal range aligned E-W, 2-rooms deep (main living rooms to the S, scullery and other service rooms to the N), entered from the S by a central porch; attached to this range to the W is a 2-storey tower which appears to be an almost entirely C19 construction in the form of a tower-house. A now internal dated lintel in the principal range between the service rooms and the entrance hall (AQMB1745, commemorating Anthony and Margaret Bowman) and a blocked window, strongly suggests that this range was originally only a single room in depth, and extended in 1858. The rear wall of the SE room, and that to the W of the room and dividing it from the entrance hall are extremely thick and contain features that confirm an early date: a four-centred stone doorway arch, partially blocked but visible in the entrance hall; the remains of a newel stair in the SW corner of the room; and an early (but undateable) window in the rear wall, 1st floor, and now blocked. These features together suggest the possibility that the SW room was once a tower-house, but the presence of a high quality doorway at ground level militates against this (although it is possible that the ground level may have been altered). A C19 engraving shows that there was no tower to the W before 1858; however the external stack visible on the E wall of the tower evidently pre- dates the 1858 work for its extensive corbel table survives and is visible in the roof space. (It may have served as a corbelled fireplace, but this seems unlikely in this position). Exterior: S elevation: symmetrical 4-window range with castellated gabled porch containing datestone HN 1858 under small single-light window. Square-headed doorway with chamfered surround. 2-light windows to 1st floor with chamfered and vermiculated mullions and surrounds, and 2-pane hornless sash windows. 3-light window to either side of porch, otherwise treated identically to those above. Stone coping and internal end stack (with 3 brick shafts) to E wall, with one C20 window. Rear (N) elevation of principal range with C19 fenestration; 3-window range, the right-hand (W) windows set well to the W; 8-pane harnless sash windows throughout (altered to ground floor, left). Stone plain surrounds. One doorway to left, another blocked right of centre. Tower: rendered, except for N elevation and battlements, the render out back at the angles to resemble quoining. 2 stages, the upper stage slight recessed. Battlements corbelled out with external stacks to E and W. S side with one window to each floor, 2 lights to 1st floor, 3 to ground, with plain chamfered mullions and surrounds. W side with 2 2-pane hornless sash windows to 1st floor and a narrow slit to external stack at the same level, all with stone surrounds. Centrally placed shield to battlements. N: 2 pane harnless sash window to 1st floor; lean to with stone coping, the door, C19 and studded. Interior: many early features probably remain under the plaster. 4-centred doorway, remains of newel, and old window (with wooden lintel) mentioned above. Otherwise standard c19 furnishings; one stone fireplace, Cl9 but in C16 style. Roof: standard tie, ridge-piece, side purlin roof, difficult to date but pre-1858. The corbelling in the W gable indicates an ancient well at this point, date not known (see above). Note: The C19 owner (Henry Norman) was an antiquerian and conducted his own excavation of the adjacent Roman site. This 'tower house' (to the W) is an interesting example of 'medieval reconstruction', although it is possible that some archaeological evidence indicated the presence of a tower here, and that the surviving C16 work represents the remains of a hall range. Birdoswald Farmhouse also indicates the long-established and continuous occupation of this site from Roman times.

Listing NGR: NY6149766293

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 78182
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.