Details
SO 81 SW
5/124
HARESCOMBE, Brookthorpe,
STROUD ROAD (east side),
Mulberry Tree Hall and garden wall
(Previously listed as Mulberry Tree Farmhouse)
10.1.55
II*
Large detached house. Late C16 or early C17 cross wing, mid C17 central range, later C17 rear wing; possible late medieval origins. Random rubble limestone with ashlar dressings, most of the dressings set proud of the wall surfaces, and it seems likely that rendering was intended; cross wing upper level in close stud timber framing, stone slate roof, ashlar stacks. PLAN: Central range with cross wing to left forming a T-plan, and smaller rear gabled wing to the right. This may have been originally a hall house, with the solar wing to the left, but the main central range rebuilt in the C17, retaining a cross-passage to the right with kitchen range beyond. EXTERIOR: Front has projecting gable end to left with roll moulding to parapet and 3 openwork finials; single-window fenestration to gable, all recessed cavetto-mullioned with leaded casements; 3-light to ground and upper floors with 2-light to attic, all with hood moulds; small attic slit vent; south side of cross wing is timber-framed with small framing to upper floor and leaded timber casement; 2-light cavetto-mullioned window with hood mould below. Remainder of front dominated by full gable with single openwork finial and 4-light attic casement; scattered fenestration below is mixture of 2- and 3-light; central moulded 4-centred arched doorway with hood mould; 2 ridge mounted chimneys with moulded caps. North side: timber-framed with small framing over masonry; 2-light recessed cavetto mullioned casement to right; 2 leaded timber upper floor casements either side of small central timber casement; 2 gabled roof dormers. South end: parapet gabled with ridge-mounted chimney; off-centre upper floor leaded casement; C19 conservatory below. Rear: small framed gable to right with leaded attic and upper floor casements; C20 single-storey stone addition below; 3-light recessed cavetto-mullioned casements to centre of rear elevation with leaded casement to gabled roof dormer over; late C17 gabled wing projecting to left has 3-light recessed chamfered mullioned casement; 2-light over.
INTERIOR: All doors, including the studded plank front door, removed. The main entrance, now (Jan 1994) filled with temporary blockwork, gives to a former passage, with chamfered beam but no partition to the left, and lightweight C20 partition to the right. The main ground floor room has a stone flagged floor, 2 broad chamfered beams, and, to the left a square stone fireplace with ovolo-mould surround. The former kitchen, to the right, has a wide fireplace with chamfered surround, a transverse beam and a lateral beam which also crosses the former passage; the room has a wide C20 opening to the rear wing, which is open to the roof structure, and contains a C20 staircase to a gallery. At the parlour end are 2 rooms separated by a wooden winder stair. The front room has a central beam, and a wide fireplace with chamfered stone surround. The other room has, in the line of the former rear wall, now extended, a large rough beam. The stair is flanked by a framed partition. At first floor level one small chamfered stone fire surround remains, and there are several wooden doorways with slight 4-centred heads. The rear room to the solar wing has some good C17 panelling used as a cupboard front, and behind the staircase is an enclosed space with some panelling and a ventilator set high, with thin turned balusters. The winder stair continues to the attics, where the roof structure retains some early collars and tenoned purlins, but is mainly C19 and C20 replacement.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: random rubble limestone garden wall with roll-moulded coping.
Listing NGR: SO8393012039
