Dornafield

Details

SX 86 NW IPPLEPEN 2/113 Dornafield - 23.8.55 GV II* Farmhouse. Circa late C15 with early C16 and late C16 wings, modified in C17. Late C19/early C20 outshut. Limestone rubble walls, rendered at rear. Gable ended slate roof. Scantle slate over rear wing with C17 crested ridge tiles. 4 limestone rubble projecting stacks : 1 at each gable end of main block, right-hand one cut off at the top; lateral stack to front of house and at side of rear wing. Originally 3-room and through passage plan (lower room to the left) with central hearth, open to the roof at least over hall, passage and lower room and probably over inner room. In early C16 a wing was added behind the inner room which was also open to the roof with a central hearth. In the circa late C16 early C17 a rear 2- storey block was added to the wing, parallel to the main block, which might have extended further than it now does. In the circa mid C17 the house was floored throughout and the position of the passage possibly slightly altered. Lateral stack added at front of hall and side of wing, gable stack inserted to lower and inner rooms. At this stage a stair may have been inserted at the rear of the inner room from the evidence of the double doorway leading into it. In 1664 a 2-storey porch was added at front of passage. In the late C17 a framed staircase was added in a projection in the angle between hall and rear wing. There was formerly a wing at the rear of the lower end of the house forming a courtyard at the rear (from the evidence of an old photograph), this was demolished prior to 1922 (a postcard shows a photograph of that date with the wing no longer in existence). This appears to have been C17 at least. Late C19/early C20 outshut added at rear of hall and lower end. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4-window front. First floor windows are early C20 casements with glazing bars, 4-light to left, 2-light to porch at left of centre and the 2 right-hand ones are 3-light. On the ground floor is late C20 5-light casement to left, C20 3-light casement to right of centre, both with glazing bars, and later C20 2-light casement to right without glazing bars. Large 2-storey porch to left of centre with very wide round-headed granite voussoir arched doorway with chamfered arch and imposts and roll moulded jambs. A plaque above reads I.C. (referring to a member of the Crossing family) 1664 and is carved on an armorial shield. On the left-hand wall of the porch at the ground floor is a very small light with wooden ogee-headed frame. There is an identical opening on the opposite porch wall at first floor level. The front doorway to the house has a heavy square-headed wooden frame, probably contemporary with the porch, which is heavily moulded with ogee stops. C20 plank door. To the right of the doorway is a small single light window with chamfered probably C17 wooden frame, which lights the hall and possibly acted as a form of squint to the porch. 2-window front to wing at rear of right-hand side with stair turret in angle with main block. At the rear of the house is a cobbled courtyard across which is the barn (q.v.) which is attached to the small parallel rear block. Good interior with features from all main building phases. Over the passage and lower end 2 original smoke-blackened trusses survive. The one over the higher side of the passage has principals with short curved feet of large scantling with morticed arch braced collar beam. Mortice for threaded purlin and an adjoining mortice is likely to have been for a windbrace. Cut off at the apex above a small yoke. The truss over the lower room consists of similar principal rafters with morticed cambered collar. The apex is complete and a square set ridge rests on the yoke with the principals not quite meeting above. The smoke-blackened ridge survives for one bay to either side of this truss. All heavily encrusted with soot. The fact that the higher truss is more ornate with its arch-bracing suggests that it was originally directly over the hall and the passage was subsequently moved so that it was beneath it. Over the rear wing is a 4-bay smoke-blackened roof of 3 trusses, one of which at least has curved feet. The principal rafters have threaded purlins and diagonal ridge, the morticed collars have been removed. Where the wing abuts the rear block is a curved hip post, the timbers become more lightly smoke-blackened towards this end. Over the hall and inner room is a later roof constructed of less substantial principals with lapped and pegged collars. Rear parallel block has one complete truss consisting of a principal with curved foot at the front and jointed cruck at the rear. Its morticed collar has been removed. Where this block joins the rear wing is a complex arrangement of timbers which incorporates another principal rafter with curved foot. Lower room has fireplace with plain, probably replacement wood lintel and has a brick oven in the left side. Roughly chamfered cross beams and half beam above fireplace. The former plank and muntin screen at the lower side of the passage has been removed. At the higher side a C17 plank and muntin screen survives, which supports the possibility of the passage having been moved. The muntins have bead mouldings. Both passage and lower room have slate slab floors. The hall fireplace has an ovolo moulded wooden lintel and there is a similarly moulded cross beam. A thick wall separates the hall and inner room and at its rear end is a double round- headed arched doorframe, the rear doorway now blocked. It is possible that this has been moved from an earlier screen but if insitu it is conceivable that the rear door originally led to stairs. At the rear of the hall leading into the wing is a heavy simply moulded probably C18 doorframe with contemporary 2-panel door. Beyond it in a projection is a late C17 framed staircase with large square newels that have rounded caps, moulded handrail and closed string. The square balusters are probably replacements of turned ones. Beyond the stairs a contemporary or slightly later 2- fielded panel door leads into the room in the rear wing. On the landing reached by the C17 staircase are several contemporary 2 moulded-and-fielded panel doors. The rear parallel block has been subdivided but chamfered cross beams with hollow step stops are in both parts partly obscured by the dividing wall. The home was reputedly besieged by General Fairfax during the Civil War.This building was evidently an important house in the area and has had a complex evolution with a substantial part having been destroyed. Its interest lies in the variety of good quality internal features and the attractive traditional facade whilst the survival of 2 different consecutive early roof structures is of particular importance.

Listing NGR: SX8396768291

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

84820

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.