Knowlands Farm TA 404

The building sits on a 'Knoll' from which the name Knowlands is probably derived. It is brick faced with Flemish bond bricks using dark headers in a chequer pattern, beneath tiled roofs. The original late 17th century house was L- shaped. It consisted of four bays, aligned N-S, with a lobby entry onto a multi-flue chimney stack, and a single bay wing with an end chimney stack extending east of the southern bays. There is a cellar under the southernmost bay which is entered from this wing. The attics are accessed by two stairs abutting the stacks. The multi-flue chimney has large inglenooks and evidence for spit-jack fixing. There is evidence for at least one first floor hearth using the multi-flue stack. There was an external bread oven on the eastern side of the chimney stack in the single bay wing. A later addition fills the NE corner of this L-shaped plan to form a rectangular building.

The form of the four bay plan with the lobby entry and accessible attics suggests a build date in the second half of the 17th century. The position of the main staircase and the overall plan of the original house may suggest early multi-occupancy. The circulation pattern is not clear and is confused by the later additions and changes to the orientation of the main staircase.

Farm buildings
These lie to the north and were built slightly after the house. They include a five bay barn which originally had double doors to the central bay, a converted granary over a cart shed and pig pens and cattle hovels to the north of the barn.

These notes have been compiled from survey reports prepared by Dr Annabelle Hughes. The original reports have been deposited in the Sussex Archaeological Society Library, Barbican House, Lewes, where they can be consulted by researchers.

Knowlands Farm, c1900-1910
Reproduced by kind permission of Mike Green

Knowlands Farm, fireplace, c1890-1900
Sussex Archaeological Society, Barbican House, picture collection.

Tithe Data

Knowland House & Yard
(Knowlands Farm)

1841 Census

Tenement Analysis

Buildings

Archaeology

Old Maps

Further Information