Aylwins

Description

Aylwins (Offham Farm) is composed of two parallel ranges, with tiled roofs. There are two multi-flue chimney stacks, one serving the north bay, and one towards the southern end. The range closest to the road is built in brick, laid in header bond, with double-hung nib-less (pre-Victorian) sash windows with narrow moulded glazing bars (3 on 6 at first floor, 6 on 8 ground floor). There is a bracketed timber cornice, timber rustications at the corners, and white-painted rendered window heads. The northern brick gable has bands of flint cobbles.

The rear eastern range has a higher ridge, the tiled roof is half-hipped north and gabled south, and the elevations are tile-hung above relatively modern brickwork. There is a wing at right angles to the southern corner and a flat-roofed addition along the eastern elevation. This wing is unfloored and consists of two bays with a staggered butt-purlin roof.

Internally, bay posts and mid-girders (stop-chamfered) are partially visible within the eastern range and of heavy scantling, but with little evidence of other wall-framing. There is no clear visible evidence for other wall-framing. There are visible hearths at both ends of the west range. A cellar extends under the front range and has some chalk block walling. The present main stair rises from the centre of the rear range to within the front range. A secondary stair rises within the rear range and a stair continues to the attic above in the same space.

The attic provides ample living space, and has in-line butt-purlins in five bays, with no visible ridge board (pre-1750). Collars to principal rafters have been removed or raised to give better through height.

Conclusions

The two ranges appear to be of different dates, that to the rear being the earlier. Although there is little visible evidence in the rear range for full framing, the tile-hanging suggests that there may be stud-walling at first floor, and the ground floor brickwork does not appear to be original. Although the chimney stacks seem to have been rebuilt, the evidence suggests they were always external to the rear range. The layout indicates a fairly traditional hierarchy, with a narrower central bay flanked by pairs of bays, with 'service' rooms (kitchen etc) to the north, 'parlour' to the south. The proportions, roof construction (which is continuous) and visible framework all indicate a build date in the last quarter of the 17th century.

In the original house the plan suggests the narrower central bay was used as entrance and access. The present main stair was clearly constructed when the front range was added, and the secondary stairs may have been contemporary to allow the 'service' end of the house to be self-contained. Could this have been connected with the period 1841-61, when there were several indoor servants? As there is no other evidence within the rear range for an original stair, it is just possible that what is now a secondary stair was the original only stair.

The later wing at right angles to the south of the rear range would seem to have been some kind of functional outbuilding that was incorporated into the main house at a later period. The front range was added to 'modernise' the house, but there are some anomalies; with apparently such a fine frontage one would have expected a significant central doorway with canopy or porch. A photograph in the owners' possession solved this, showing the front before they made changes c.1960 (see picture below). At that time there was a simple central doorway with a flat hood, 2-on-2 sash windows with rubbed brick headers at ground floor. This would be in accord with an early nineteenth century addition. The cornice and rustications are not discernible.

Aylwins, Offham in the 1960s

Tithe Data

318 House, Buildings etc.
(Aylwins)

1841 Census

Tenement Analysis

Buildings

Archaeology

Old Maps

Further Information