Description
Historical report: The farm is thought to have been part of the Whitley Park estate which was sold by the company that owned it to sitting tenants at favourable prices. Mr Hugget, the first freehold farmer at Emley Farm, was thought by his contemporaries to have had no idea about how to farm and could only survive because of his marriage to a wealthy Guinness daughter. The tenant before Hugget was a man called Woodman. Mr Dennison bought the farm in 1953 for œ11,000 later buying another two boggy fields which until then had been part of Begley Farm. The owners of Begley were then a widow Mrs Tuke and her daughter from Ramsey. They had taken on the farm as the previous owner was dispossessed under a War Order because of inefficiency.
The agricultural farm buildings consist of two large timber-framed barns, a lofted timber cowhouse, a stone built stable, a timber- framed granary, and a timber built implement shed. Some derelict pig sties north of the house were demolished in 1988, there are said to have been some more cartsheds where the garage now stands. An elm tree fell on these cartsheds when Hugget owned the farm and he chose not to replace them. Comparison with the 1915 edition O.S survey shows that a range of buildings existed in the SE corner of the farmyard built against the retaining wall. The narrow width of the range and the pens shown on the map suggest that the north end of this range was almost certainly pig sties. The low gable which forms part of the drying area supports this suggestion. No information is known about another now demolished building behind this wall. The domestic offices include the M20thC garage already mentioned, a wash house and drying yard, a stone and timber potting shed, an unidentified small building, and an E20thC summer house.
The historical value of the farmstead lies not in the merit of the individual buildings but in the fact that it has remained completely unaltered despite the replacement of traditional farming techniques. It is a near perfect example of a traditional mixed farm sitting in unspoiled Surrey landscape. [1]
REPORT BY THE DOMESTIC BUILDINGS RESEARCH GROUP SURREY, 1992
No.4033(3)
There are two main builds. First a four bay, 1 1/2 storey, timber framed house with half hipped roof, jowl posts and arching braces in the framing. Roof has clasped purlins and windbraces. Probably built around 1550. An outshot was added at the east end to accommodate a very deep well. Second, in the early 17thC a fine stone house added in the front was of 2 storeys and attic, with hearths in the back of the rooms, and a central entrance and stair. Back wings linked the new with the old. A cellar was built under the back parlour and extended under the first house. Walls facing inwards are timber framed as is the wing linking the two house on the east side. The inner courtyard holds a lead lined cistern. There are mullion windows with some old glass facing into the courtyard.
The house, which may have been the dower house to Witley Park, lies about 1 1/4 miles south of Thursley and faces a farmyard which is bounded by 2 large barns and a cattle shed. The track from the road to Bowlhead Green leads west into the yard.
The Plan: Remains in outline as in the 1872 O.S map, except that a turret has been added on the east side. At the back is the old house of four bays, an east-west apex, and a well house added at the east end. At the front of the square plan is a "polite" house with stone outside walls and a stone faced parlour wing on the west side back to the first house. On the east side a 2 bay timber framed wing links the two houses, enclosing a central courtyard which holds a lead lined cistern. The entrance is in the centre of the stone south front and the back entrance is in the east wing in line with the cellar steps and facing the smaller east yard.
The Old House: In the north elevation the original timber framing, including jowl posts and arching braces, largely remains. Windows have been inserted, including two dormers and also a handsome bay window said to have come from the nearby- Cosford House when it was demolished. In bay X-Y a stone wall has been inserted below the rail backing a modern hearth in this bay. At the east end inserted below the rail backing a modern hearth in this bay. At the east end the well has been protected from the weather by a catslide roof from the collar of the half hipped roof.
The Entrance: This to the first house can no longer be identified. There is a track running N-S on the west side of the house which could have been used for access to a north facing front entrance with the original stair-which was probably between Y1 and Z1- in its usual place at the back of the house. The first well may therefore have been at the back under the present courtyard.
Ground Floor: The West room of 2 bays may once have been 2 rooms. The spine beam has curved step stops which are found with smoke bays and hoods. Post W, which supports a central beam crossing the spine, has a moulded bracket. The cellar under is later. The central bay (X-Y), which now has a modern stone hearth, has higher joists and also a handsome chamfered pillar standing on a round pad. This was probably the hearth room. But the stone hearth and covered f/f timbers hide evidence about the form of the original hearth. However the chamfered pillar in the hearth room points to a framed smoke hood opening into the roof and this would explain the light, widely spread sooting with heavier deposits round the east gablet nearest the likely smoke hood. The first floor rooms were ceiled later and the trusses were originally closed. Otherwise the original roof structure-clasped purlins and wind braces-largely remains. The flattish rafters- 12cm wide x 8cm deep-are sooted only paret over, which suggests thatching. Gablets and jack rafters remain in place.
The Well House: This outshot at the east end enclosed 2 mullion windows on the ground and first floors of the original east end wall. Unlike the remainder of the interior the timber framing of this end wall is exposed up to the collar. Access to the very deep well (137 feet) would originally have been at floor level and is now built around. It is said that donkeys were used to raise the water: and it is to be noted that the tie beams in the outshot has been cut away above each edge of the well-to make room for the circling donkeys' ears?
The Front House: These is substantial (45cm) external random laid stone walls with galleting inside which is set timber framing for trusses and inward facing walls-an interesting feature. Windows are splayed. The roof is half hipped at the East end with the gabled South end of the parlour wing on the west side of the front entrance. There is an added porch (19thC). The main ground floor windows on the south and West sides are also 19thC with brick arches above. The bricks in the quoins measure 22 x 11 x 5 cm.
The plan of the front house is interesting. The central bay is taken up by the baffle entrance, with doors to each of the Living Rooms, and the only way to the old house is through either hearth room or parlour. Behind the baffle entrance is an unusually wide stair winding round a newel post which reaches up to attic level. This stair faces back towards the inner courtyard with access from a back passage lit by a mullion window with red ochre paint on the courtyard side. This stair was thus built before the main stair in Surrey came to be seen as a central feature of the house.
At the back of the Hearth Room is a very deep inglenook, flush pointed and painted to appear better quality bricks, with spice cupboard beside. This abuts into the east wing but there is no backing hearth as in the west wing where the Parlour has a 4 centred brick arched inglenook hearth which is backed by a further hearth in the back Living Room in this wing. Houses with two chimneys on the back wall are among the more prestigious in Surrey. The spine beam and joists in the downstairs rooms are chamfered and stopped (lamb's tongues). The internal walls are timber framed. On the f/f in the South West Bedroom the spine beam has lamb's-tongue stops but the joists are plain and were probably plastered over. In the South-East bedroom half the attic floor above has been removed and the remaining attic provides the room below with an attractive gallery.
The parlour wing has a fine clasped purlin roof with wind braces, raking queen posts in the inner trusses, and massive cambered tie beams. This attic was designed for accommodation, and also provides access to the attic of the old house.
The East Wing: This 2 bay wing provides a way through between the two houses at ground floor only. The wing, which laps part of the well house, completes the square plan. There is a substantial truss across the middle of the wing but at each end the plates and rails are directly attached to the framing of the two houses. On the ground floor the passage through leads past the deep inglenook hearth and a small kitchen behind to a back entrance area with a random laid stone slab floor with snail shells in the dark grey stone. There have been alterations in the timber framing at this end of the wing: 1872 O.S records some structural link between this back entrance and the farm building close by. On the first floor the room behind the large chimney was a bacon smoking chamber: there is sooting on the timber, a bricked up opening in the chimney stack, and no opening through the central truss into the adjacent room on the north side.
The Courtyard: Holds a lead lined cistern 60cm deep which is fed from internal roof slopes. There is a drain tap from the north east corner into the east wing passage. Access to the cistern is through a lift out window which lights the stair to the cellar: this lies under the north end of the parlour wing and the west end of the old house. There is an appealing village memory of the donkeys used to raise water from the well being kept in the cellar: perhaps in the deep mid winter.
Possible Development: First there was the 4 bay old house: jowl posts, curved braces, curved step stops, a half hipped roof, and indications of a framed smoke hood suggest a date around 1550. The front house followed: its transitional features such as timber framing behind external stone walls, the baffle entrance and the stair facing the courtyard suggest an E17thC build. The cellar would have been built at this stage and extended under the old house. The less important east wing, which provided service rooms, has similar framing to that of the back of the old house it was probably moved to its present location when the later front house and east wing were built: the outside wall of the east wing is attached to the side of the well house.
References
Both chimneys in back and central stair
Crossways, Abinger--stone and brick façade and one timber back kitchen wing.
Old House-Timber Framed, 4 Bays and Half Hipped
Cripplegate, West Horsley--central smoke hood.
Old Cottage, Albury Heath--end smoke hood.
Somerset Farm, Pepper Harrow--central smoke hood
"Polite" new house in front of old house
Little Manor, Worplesdon
Roll Stop (seldom found)
Tenchleys Manor, Limpsfield.
Chilworth Old Manor, St Martha. [2]
THE FARMHOUSE
Emley F/hse consists of four two storey ranges, these are arranged around a small square light well. The whole of the courtyard so formed is taken up by a lead lined water cistern fed with water from the internal roof slopes. The oldest portion of the house is the rear, once a complete farmhouse in itself. This has various timber-framed details which suggest a date of 1550- 1590. The remainder of the house is early 19thC in date, it too has timber-framed walls facing the courtyard, but the public walls facing out are executed in the local yellow stone. The front porch was added in the later 19thC while the timber-framed bathroom wing probably dates from the 1920's.
NOTE: The following is not a full survey, in particular a close inspection of the outside of the building was not possible. Additional notes were added in {1992}.
Porch: Timber framed with brick noggin. Added to the 17thC house probably in the L19thC.
Lobby: The holes for a locking draw bar remain within the door reveals.
Front Living Room: The internal walls are fully timber-framed for the openings, including in wall XX' framing round the brick work of the chimney stack. The original brick four-centred arch fireplace remains in use by the provision (before 1953) of a metal hood. The main ceiling beam has good quality lambs-tongue with quirk stops to the chamfers, the common joists have plain lambs-tongue stops.
{Scrapes on the outer walls and at the edge of the panel over the fireplace did not reveal decorative wall finishes. The lowest colour is red, overlain by green. The area over the fireplace should be examined further before being stripped.}
Back Living Room: The fireplace is of the same build and style as that in the front room. This would have been much more comfortable than the front room in the 17thC since it has a suspended floor and plastered ceiling. The main beam has lambs- tongue stops to the chamfers.
{The east wall is to be repaired. This is in fact a lining of lath and plaster on studs set clear of previous plastered brick noggin. No early decorative painted finishes were found on scraping. The fireplace has good areas of red ochre remaining to either side of the throat. The exposed brickwork has been extensively cleaned and repointed}.
Closet: The lead pipe in the ceiling requires further investigation.
Study: This room is part of the original house. It is rather larger than one would expect and may have been formed out of two rooms when the cellar was dug in the 17thC. The ceiling beams have both lambs-tongue stops, 17thC, and curved stepped stops, c.1550-1600, there is no indication of a partition under any of the beams. The bay window is said to have come from Cosford House in the valley below Emley Farm, it is possible the ceiling was also moved from there. Where visible wall CC' has stave holes for a wall right across, two sets in places.
{It is proposed to remove the L19thC fireplace and replace it with an Aga. A photograph of the fireplace was taken. Close inspection of the ceiling confirmed earlier suspicions that it is L19thC. Modern shakes have appeared in the main beams.}
Breakfast Room: The present fireplace and staircase were added by tenants. The latter is a replacement for an awkward stair which rose from A'. Beam BB' has stave holes for a wall where visible, so the doorway must have been the area by B now covered by the chimney stack. A door in this position suggests bay AB was originally a parlour, i.e. the better end of the original house. Post L is a major post, but is somewhat smaller than the others in this range. It may be matched by a post in the N wall but this was not inspected at the time of the survey. The present wall AA' is an addition. The original wall was under the beam now in the next room.
Bakehouse: This is a timber-framed addition beyond the end of the original house. The earlier gable AA' retains a first floor mullioned window, the mullion holes for a ground floor window can also be seen, note that these were never glazed. The bread oven is unusually large, and has survived complete with iron door and anterior flue. The well is 120ft deep to water level with a further 17ft of water. Running down the east side of the shaft are the remains of lead pumping gear. Where visible the shaft is of standard size bricks. The low tie beam has an arched portion removed from point. This may be related to some early form of winding gear.
Rear Lobby: In the short time available it was not possible to fix the position of the main post, or to determine its function. The end of the spine beam has a lambs-tongue stop.
Kitchen: All 20thC fittings, C20th Shower Room off.
Dining Room: Known as the pig room by tenants as pig food was kept here for a while after they moved in. The wide inglenook was kept here for a while after they moved in. The wide inglenook is the 17thC cooking fireplace, surprisingly close to the front of the house. The brickwork is flush pointed and painted to appear as better quality brickwork, a finish common in the 17thC but one which has seldom survived. Both sides of the inglenook have been reduced and there is enough space to the east of the stack for a bread oven. A hole in the flue would seem to lead into the smoking loft observed from the roof.
{The lobby of this room appears to be L19thC and it is proposed to dismantle it and make up a new door.}
Staircase: An unusually wide winding staircase. The external timberwork of the north wall seems to be painted with red oche pigment. This is thought to have been the traditional finish to timber framing in the SE of England, but few examples have so far been identified. Closer inspection is warranted at a later date.
Bedroom.1: This retains a good oak floor, as occurs over much of the upper floors. The main beam has lambs-tongue stops, joists are now exposed although in the past they were plastered. The fireplace is 20thC.
Bedroom.2: The original four-centred arched fireplace has survived although the brickwork has been plastered. The spine beam has lambs-tongue stops. The timber framing of the original house can be seem in the north wall, it is clear that the eaves have been raised to take the western range.
{Parts of the ceiling are to be replaced. Scrapes at the edge, in the corners and in the centre did not reveal any pictorial decoration.}
Bedroom.3: The original tie beams have been removed and the walls lined, probably in the L19thC.
{The whole of lath and plaster ceiling is to be replaced. This dates from the L19thC.}
Bathroom.2: Tie beams removed and the wall lined. The window to the west of the stack is an addition of 1986-8.
Landing: The framing of the original gable wall and some of the side walls is visible. Arching braces and jowled posts as seen here were seldom used after 1600.
{The west wall is fibreboard over plank dado and plaster above. L19thC. N & E windows have rails proud of the wall to take shutters.}
Bedroom.4: Known as the Witches room as it was the dressing room used by the children invited up here for Halloween.
{The stone infill to the panels may be removed as part of the present works}.
Bathroom.1: Truss MM' is exposed in this room. It is of queen post construction with arch braces to the tie beam, this is the less good side. The stack, smoke blackened timbers, from the cooking fireplace takes up most of the bay. The bathroom fittings are all in a small E20thC timber-framed wing.
Bedroom.5: "The Doll's House" since the children preferred this room when they stayed. Half of the attic floor was removed when the Dennisons moved in because it was unsafe. The ceiling beam has lambs tongue stops and spans from O to O' although the roof trusses span in the opposite direction.
Attic Stairs: The wide stairs continue up to the attics which were clearly designed as living accommodation. The attic is described on a room by room bases although the wattle and daub has been removed from most of the partitions.
Attic Room X-Z: There is a blocked window in gable ZZ', the frame is rebated to take a glass lattice tied back to slave mullions. Truss YY' is raised to pass over the spine beam of the room below. This gives the false impression that the bedroom is part of the front range when in fact it is framed as part of the west range. YY@ has raking queen struts to allow easy access. Truss XX' was originally closed.
Attic Room X-W: There is no smoke blackening here or elsewhere in this range. The whole of the area is floored for use as storage space.
Attic Room V-W: Both trusses originally closed. Truss VV" rides over the spine beam of the room below. It is not clear how this room was originally lit.
Attic Room U-V: Truss U was originally closed, and again it is not clear how the room was originally lit, a shuttered window in the gablet over the ridge of the north wing now provides light.
Roof of north range: Now ceiled at collar level, initially open to the roof with all trusses closed. There is light smoke blackening on all of the rafters. Wattle and daub takes the place of tiles where the east and west wings cover the original roof. This is a detail not seen before. The previous occupants had six water tanks in this attic, fed by a pump from the well.
Roof West Range: Ceiled at various heights. Bay M-N containing the chimney is plastered internally and heavily smoke blackened. This compartment was almost certainly used as a smoking chamber, although the method of access is not clear.
Tentative Development and Interpretation
Note this does not follow a full survey
Phase.1: (North range A-E) A four bay timber-framed house with many characteristics of the immediately post-medieval period called the smoke bay period, i.e. 1550-1590. The original form of heating is not clear, there is no ancient chimney stack in this range, but the roof does not show sufficient signs of smoke- blackening to be taken as a smoke-bay house or open hall. Much of the roof has been cut out and may even have been rebuilt. A precise date on stylistic grounds may never be forthcoming.
Phase II: Part or all of the outshot east of AA' must pre-date the next phase.
Phase III: The east range is fully timber framed and may date from c.1600. The range may have continued beyond NN'. Further investigation of both points is required.
Phase IV: The remaining two ranges would seem to be of the same E17thC date. The west end of the North range may have been rebuilt if the cellar was excavated at this time. Closer investigation of this portion is also needed.
Later work: This includes the addition of the porch, bay window and bathroom wing. [1]