Building record 14317 - Nineteenth Century Farmhouse and Barn, Little Low Farm

<1> Aeon Archaeology, 2018, 80, Buxton Road, Congleton, CW12 2DY: Historic Building Record Level 2, R4200 (Client Report). SCH8521.

A level 2 historic building and photographic survey was undertaken in March 2018 to record a farmhouse and barn to the rear of 80, Buxton Road, Congleton, CW12 2DY, in advance of conversion of the barn into a single dwelling, demolition of the farmhouse and the erection of two new dwellings. Both the exterior and the interior of the barn were viewed, described and photographed, however only access to the exterior of the farm building/homestead was achieved due to fire damage and the unsafe nature of the structure.

The Astbury Tithe Map and apportionment of c.1841 records the location of the farmhouse as 'Little Lowe Farm' and comprising a homestead and garden owned by Thomas Arnett and occupied by Joseph Allen. The tithe map therefore shows that the farmhouse building was in existence from at least the early 19th century. The barn proposed for conversion does not appear on the tithe map and is not first depicted until the production of the first edition 6 inch Ordnance Survey map of 1899.

The farmhouse has suffered significant fire damage and the roof space has been open to the weather for some time (especially in the southern range), furthermore the barn appears to have been extended to the north covering over an earlier yard area. The ground and upper floors of the farmhouse were inaccessible but the exterior possesses some characteristic features; the brick embrasures on the north and south of the northern range, the cast iron wall ties running through the building north to south and the evidence of good quality stone masonry on the lintels located above the eastern door on the northern façade of the northern range and above the cellar chute on the western façade of the southern elevation. The roof of the original barn has been renewed and strengthened recently but the original hipped design is still evident from the exterior. The original yard area located to the north of the barn still has its original brick laid surface although this had been partially truncated by a modern mechanics pit; the windows located on the northern elevation of room E evidence that this was the original exterior wall of the barn and that yard area has been preserved and not covered over in concrete is uncommon.