Monument Type(s):

• FARMHOUSE (17th century to Late 19th century - 1600 AD to 1899 AD)

Summary

A 17th century farmhouse and attached outbuildings incorporating some possibly 14th century elements. It is protected by Grade II* Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4425 - 1973 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA4426 - 1981 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA7350 - 2008 Photographic recording and archaeological observation at Castle Farm Moat Wall, Cheney Longville by Border Archaeology
• ESA8625 - 2014 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8621 - 2015 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8361 - 2016 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
• ESA8362 - 2017 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England

Description

Farmhouse and attached outbuildings. C17 with earlier, possibly C14, origins. Sandstone rubble; plain tile roof;
massive canted and stepped rubble buttress stack with brick chimney to west gable; stepped rubble stack with brick chimney to east gable. Courtyard plan.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, attic and cellar; 3-window range: central late C18 or early C19 2-light casement with, to right, similar 3-light casement; to left, 3-light mullion and transom light with canted casement. 3 timber-framed gabled dormers with metal casements and leaded lights, under shallow jettied trusses, that to right dated 1677. Ground floor with 2 casements and to left a mullion and transom leaded light with central casement; stone sills; battered plinth.
Left returned side: 2 ashlar lights to cellars.
Rear: early C19 verandah on 4 stone Tuscan columns, over 2 late C19 casements in moulded wood architraves, and C20 part-glazed door and overlight.
Wing to right rear: 2-light casement over cross-window with metal casement; brick end stack.
Further wing with semi-dormer over ashlar segmental arch of carriageway; barred and shuttered opening over 2 possibly medieval openings with coved ashlar reveals and traces of relieving arches; ventilation holes; battered plinth; lean-to; gable of returned side has wood mullion light with stone sill.
Rear of range to west: rubble buttress stack; C19 barred lights in chamfered ashlar cases.
Courtyard front of rear wing has various lights and openings, with stone steps to granary; 3 medieval pointed arches and C19 arch; chamfered ashlar lights; blocked C14 mullion window with hoodmould. Lean-to with cider-mill.
INTERIOR: massive chamfered ceiling beams; deep splayed openings. <6>

A rectified photographic survey was undertaken prior to restoration work being carried out on the NE section of the Moat Wall at Castle Farm, Cheney Longville. Four sections of wall facing located to the SE of the central gateway and a 5m long section immediately NW of the gateway were removed under archaeological observation. At least three distinct phases of construction were identified, the earliest represented by the drystone rubble core of the Moat Wall behind which was a large deposit of made-up soil probably relating to post-medieval landscaping of the site. Several sherds of early to mid 19th century pottery were recovered from the rubble core indicating that certain sections of the Moat Wall, although not necessarily its entire length, were either newly built or reconstructed between c.1800-1850. The masonry facing of the wall on either side of the gateway also exhibited marked differences in construction method and materials used, suggesting that they represent two distinct phases of building activity, again probably of late post-medieval (19th century) date. <7>

The farmhouse is mostly of C17, but it is part of a courtyard plan approached through a gatehouse across a moat. Within the courtyard at least two, possibly three, stone-built, first-floor halls have been identified. One has a large hall, approx 33ft x 15ft (10m x 4.6m) approached by a flight of steps, and with a small inner solar approx 10ft x 15ft (3m x 4.6m), the two connected by a 'Caernarvon'-arched doorway and lit only by slit windows; the other has a blocked pointed arched doorway at ground level and a traceried, two-light window which is square-headed, stone-mullioned and trefoiled. The two are linked by another stone block which has arched doorways at gound level. The whole complex is difficult to assess, but Sir Hugh Cheyney had licence to crenellate in 1395 and much of it could date from then. Other features include an ulenlok in the gable of the first hall and this building also has a plaster and wood hood which proved only to serve a later washing-copper at ground level. In the inner courtyard is ginny-ring and the remains of a cider press. The ginny-ring was used for crushing oats as well as apples. The outer courtyard contains farm buildings among which is a long barn on graduated staddle-stones with a granary at one end. Greenish-grey Cheney Longville Flags of late Ordovician age, fashioned into roofing flags, lie disused in the farmyard. Six photographs.<8>

The site has retained its medieval form of a courtyard with four ranges enclosed within a moat, but it has been much rebuilt. In the S wall are 2 C14 doorways, side by side, with no space for a wall between and thus clearly reset. On the first floor of the W range a transverse wall has a doorway with a Caernarvon arch, but that too might be reset.<9>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.