Fferm Farmhouse

Location

200m NW of the Bodelwyddan to Rhuddlan road.

History

The earliest part of the house is dated on an internal beam, 1593. Of this date, there is a single unit only, suggesting either that the farm was not originally a full dwelling, or that its earlier continuation has been lost. Added to this original unit, a narrow heated unit of apparently C19 character has been largely rebuilt, and an early twentieth century remodelling of an earlier single storey bay beyond was also rebuilt and heavily extended in 1993.

Exterior

The original section of the house comprises a 2 storey, 2-window range; limestone rubble, heavily rendered, with old slate roof and gable end stack. South-facing front elevation formerly had central doorway (now a window), and 2 windows on each floor; prior to c1990, these were small-paned horizontally sliding sashes to the first floor, and small-paned sashes below. All have now been renewed as casements with minimal glazing bars. Small window alongside chimney in east gable end. West of this range comprises either late C20 reconstruction or extension, also rendered and with slate roofs, but otherwise with modern detail.

Interior

The original section of the house comprises a single large room with massive fireplace with cambered bressumer at gable end. Heavy chamfered lateral beams (including one against the wall away from the fireplace), and chamfered joists. Beam next to the fireplace bears inscription in raised letters ''''Anno Domini 1593. 5555'''', the latter thought to be an anno mundi date. One beam has slots for a former partition, but perhaps for a secondary sub-division. Evidence for a doorway alongside the chimney was discovered during building work. The staircase mentioned in earlier descriptions was in the SW angle of the main room, but was removed c1993. Upstairs, a single roof truss has been exposed: its original form was a tie-beam truss with raking struts and collar, but at some time, the tie-beam was cut-through, and one of the struts replaced: evidence also that the building has been raised in height.

Reason for designation

Listed notwithstanding major extension and alteration, as retaining at its core the substantial remains of a late C16 house, of which good interior features survive.