The Old Forge TA892

The house has a front façade which is tile-hung above brick. There is a two light casement window above a central door with three light casements flanking at each floor level. The chimney is towards the southern end and there is a tiled roof with lower ridge level above the southern bay. The northern end abuts a newer build and the western elevation has a lean-to to the south and a double storey addition to the north.

The original build was a three bay open-hall house of about 1450 which was aligned roughly N-S. The service end was on the south and peg holes in the eaves plates suggest the position of a full-height hall window on one or both sides. Girder and joist evidence in the central bay suggest the floor was floored in c1580. This and the hall size would suggest that the first stage of smoke control was a smoke hood framed above a hearth to the northern side of the service bay which considerably reduced its size. This may have been compensated by the additions to the western side.

The eventual replacement of this hearth and flue may not have taken place until the late 18th century, and resulted in extensive remodelling of the roof and internal framing. Excavation of the cellar at the southern end may have been contemporary with this.

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

The Old Forge, 1943
ESRO AMS 5824

The Old Forge, c1890
ESRO WI/112/1/1 Barcombe WI Coronation Scrapbook

Tithe Data

Cottage & Garden
(Old Forge)

1841 Census

Tenement Analysis

Buildings

Archaeology

Old Maps

Further Information