Listed Building: IVY HOUSE FARMHOUSE (279497)

GISLINGHAM MELLIS ROAD (NORTH WEST TM 0771 SIDE 6/41 Ivy House Farm House 29.7.55 (formerly listed as Ivy Farmhouse) GV II* House. Late C15 or early C16, floor inserted and extended early C17, altered C19 and C20. Timber frame, plastered. Steeply pitched machine tiled roofs. Originally 4 bays, a 2 bay open hall with storeyed end bays; 4 bay stack and parlour addition at right angles to form a T on plan. Now all 2 storeys. Parlour range has an entrance in narrow bay to left, part raised 6 panelled door, early C19 lugged architrave with inner reeding, cornice to projecting hood, to right parlour has 3-light metal frame glazing bar casements. Boxed eaves. Original large axial ridge stack in right bay of this range has a recessed diamond panel at foot, 4 conjoined hexagonal shafts with moulded bases, rebuilt oversailing cap. Left gable end ground floor C20 French windows, first floor 3-light glazing bar casement, projecting gable with scroll carved tie beam on leaf carved consoles. To rear parlour has 2-light casements, traces of herringbone pargetting, on first floor a slightly projecting original 8-light ovolo mullioned and transomed window, part replaced with a C19 casement. Behind stack a catslide roof over a lean-to outshut with a door to rear. Early range to right projects to front and has a slightly lower ridge. Left or inner return catslide roof over a lean-to addition. Gable front C20 projecting bay window, first floor leaded 3-light casement. Right return has a half glazed door at probable upper end of original hall, scattered 1,2 and 3-light glazing bar casements. Boxed eaves. Roof has secondary hip to rear. Interior: early bays have close studding with mid-rail, edge halved scarf joints in wall plates, stop chamfered corner posts, straight arched braces halved over mid-rail, traces of 2 service doorways towards rear and door to solar towards front, inserted floor has stop chamfered cross axial binding beam and joists. Open truss entirely removed. Crown post roof retains square posts in closed trusses, arched braces to collar purlin, smoke blackened rafters and partition to solar. Parlour addition has close studding with chamfered mid-rail, face halved scarf joints in wall plates, a stop ovolo moulded axial binding beam and a stop chamfered cross axial binding beam towards left end. Original stair behind stack with octagonal newel, early panelled doors. First floor stop ovolo moulded cross axial binding beams, double butt purlin roof with collars to principals, upper arched windbraces. Listing NGR: TM0768471880