Site Event/Activity record ECH6775 - Heritage Assessment: Roughwood Hill Farm, Betchton, Sandbach, Cheshire

A heritage assessment was produced in 2018 in support of an application for the proposed demolition and redevelopment of Roughwood Hill Farm, Betchton, Sandbach, Cheshire. Roughwood Hill farmhouse is a three-storey 18th century building of red Flemish bond brickwork with a tile roof; it is a locally listed building. This redevelopment scheme forms part of a wider scheme for a new dwelling (Roddymore Mill House), to the north-west of Roughwood Hill Farm, which involves the removal of redundant farm buildings to the west of the locally listed building. The redundant farm buildings are to be replaced by a new walled garden and greenhouse, as part of a new country estate of which the “new” Roughwood Hill Farm will be a component. The assessment has confirmed that Roughwood Hill Farmhouse was indeed built in the 18th century, although accurate dating is not possible, a range between c.1720 and c.1780 is suggested, with an inclination towards c.1730 to c.1760. Diagnostic features such as the three-storey plan, gable chimneys, and brick construction containing timber floor beams and joists all point to an 18th century date. Some of the heavy purlins in the roof show signs of reuse, indicating that they were salvaged from an earlier building. Several rooms contain paired ceiling beams with chamfers and run-out stops. There are also several ledged plank doors, including at least one with a lock, of early-mid 18th century type. The windows have all been replaced with uPVC units, so some dating information has been lost. The bricks, which a mix of are relatively hard red and dark grey types, are indicative of a date in the mid 18th century. They are laid predominantly in Flemish bond on the front elevation, and mainly in stretcher bond, with occasional header courses, on the gable elevations. No original fireplaces were observed, and no enriched plaster ceilings were noted. The staircase appears to be a replacement, and the interior has been modernised. The assessment concludes that the farmhouse is of local significance as an example of Georgian vernacular architecture that forms a connection with past farming practice. (1)