Description

GITTISHAM
SY 19 NW

7/131 Catshayes Farmhouse
1956 Ref: 21/20A

GV II

Farmhouse. Circa late C16 or earlier, possibly rebuilt and extended at the right
(north) end in the circa early C17, some C18 refurbishment. Stone rubble with some
cob to the rear and right end; thatched roof with a plain ridge half-hipped to right
end, gabled at left end; left end stack, axial stack and rear lateral stack.
Plan: Long single depth range, facing east, 4 rooms and a cross passage, higher end
to the left with the hall stack backing on to the passage and an inner room; lower
end kitchen and, adjoining the lower end, a dairy with grain stone and apple loft
over. A circa C18 stair rises from the hall against the rear wall with a small lobby
on the first floor.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Long asymmetrical 7 window front with the eaves thatch
eyebrowed over 2 first floor windows, a slight change in plane at the right end
probably marking an addition. 3 C19 or C20 plank front doors, the middle door to the
cross passage, the right hand door into a passage between the lower end kitchen and
the dairy, the left hand door into the inner room. 2-, 3-light and 4-light probably
C19 timber casements with glazing bars. The right return has one first floor and one
ground floor opening. The rear (west) elevation, fronting the road, has 4 first
floor windows, and 3 ground floor windows, the 2 at the north end unglazed, the first
floor window a C16 or C17 2-light timber mullioned window.
Interior: Rich in carpentry and joinery. The hall has a fine ceiling of intersecting
moulded beams. The open fireplace has a massive chamfered timber lintel, chamfered
Beerstone jambs, a hearth seat and a small timber-lined recess in the fireback,
function unknown. The hall bench survives intact with a bench back of C17 panelling
- this is re-used but has been in situ for at least two generations. The lower end
room has a boxed-in crossbeam and boxed-in axial beam. The fireplace, which has been
partly-blocked, has a chamfered lintel and a bread oven. The inner room was not seen
at time of survey (1988). The unheated room adjoining the lower end has large
roughly-chamfered crossbeam. The staircase is probably an C18 insertion, a 2 panel
door closes it off at the bottom and a set of 2 panel doors opens off the lobby at
the top. The stair has turned balusters with a flat-topped handrail. On the first
floor a plank partition with large studs divides the apple store from the grain store
these were both in use about 30 years ago,the apples and grain carried up the stairs
through the house.
Roof: No access to apex at time of survey, but the main trusses are side-pegged
jointed crucks including one cruck truss over the right end which is probably later
than the others. Parts of the roof may be medieval. One truss, above the lower end
kitchen is an 'A' frame.
An extremely attractive traditional house, unspoiled externally with good interior
features.

Listing NGR: SY1369697963

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26500213

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

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)