Description

WESTHORPE CHURCH ROAD (SOUTH SIDE)
TM 06 NW
4/111 Rookery Farm House
29.7.55
GV II*

House, originally possibly a guildhall. Mid to late C15, stack inserted late
C16 or early C17, altered late C18 and early C19. Timber frame, plastered.
Steeply pitched plaintiled roof. 5 large storeyed bays, originally jettied to
right end. 2 storeys and attic. Ground floor: C18 entrance slightly to left
of centre, likely to be an original entrance position, a 6-panelled door with
4 fielded panels, semi-circular fanlight, fluted pilasters, oval medallions on
dosserets to dentilled open pediment; into right and later service bay a
second entrance, a part glazed 6-panelled door, C19 architrave, shaped
brackets to hood, an architraved glazing bar sash to right, two C20 glazing
bar sashes to left. First floor 3 architraved glazing bar sashes, boxed
eaves. Axial ridge stack inserted in central bay. Left end French windows,
first floor 6 pane casement, attic 3-light part opening metal frame casement.
To rear right a C20 lean-to porch to original entrance and a 3-light part
opening metal frame casement, to rear left an inserted C19 stack in later
parlour, a ground floor canted bay window with transomed glazing bar
casements, tiled head, first floor part opening cross casement. Interior:
original entrance to rear into right bay near corner, a chamfered 2 centred
arched doorway of 2 pieces of timber. Jettied right end wall, now underbuilt,
had large brackets to alternate broad joists, jowled corner post, shutter
grooves for large windows on right end and to front right. A stop chamfered
cross axial binding beam between 2 right bays rests on stop chamfered jowled
storey posts with early Perpendicular moulded corbels to 4 centred arched
braces, broach stopped binding beam towards centre with inserted stack had
similar braces. Framing concealed in 2 left bays. Late C18 staircase in
front of stack with a turned newel post, slat balusters, moulded handrail.
First floor framing largely concealed, large chamfered jowled posts with
mortices for large arched braces, 2 central tie beams of smaller scantling
retain mortices for crown posts and appear to have been in closed trusses with
partitions below, chamfered cross axial binding beams and reused roll moulded
joists inserted to form attic in C17. In attic a C17 internal window, ovolo
mullioned 3 lights with lattice leaded panes. Roof has original numbered
rafters and low collars without smoke blackening, right gable end has
vestigial scissor bracing, side purlins inserted. This is an unusual
building, the original function and arrangements are unclear.

Listing NGR: TM0440769170

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17539888

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)