Building record 130/38/1 - Town Farm, 18 High Street

Known as the 'Butcher's Arms' in 1760, but ceased operating as a public house in the early-mid 19th century.

{1} In 1760, the farmhouse is illustrated as a long, rectangular structure with no extensions to the
rear. A strip of grass is shown parallel to the frontage. It is abutted at the north and south by smaller properties. Of greatest interest is the label “The Butcher’s Arms”, showing that the property was operating as a public house during the latter half of the 18th century. The property is labelled as being under the tenancy of “Lathbury” and under the ownership of the “Duke of Bridgewater”. The 1849 and 1874 volumes of Whellan’s History of Northamptonshire, list The Plough, which is shown on this map across the street from Town Farm, but do not have listings for Butcher’s Arms, indicating that it had ceased to operate as a public house by the early - mid 19th century.
The pre-Inclosure map of 1830 provides a much wider view of Brackley and shows the full range of buildings present in the survey area at that time. The two large stone barns , Barns 1 and 2 in this survey, and a stone built stable, Stable 1 are depicted as well as a stone outbuilding which does not fall within this survey. Two paddocks at the far west of the survey area are also shown, in the same size and shape in which they survey to the modern day. The farm building itself is still shown as a rectangular plan structure with no rear extension. The property is shown as being under the possession of the “Dukes Trustees”.
By the time of the first Edition Ordnance Survey of 1884, the farm has been expanded substantially with the construction of a Kitchen, Rear Hall and Bathroom to the rear of the farmhouse and the addition of Pigsties, Stables and Cart Shed to the west. The Ordnance Survey map 1900, depicts the Dairy and Lobby as well as the full northern range of Milking Parlours.
The farmhouse is an L-shaped structure presenting a main elevation to the High Street on a north-east, south-west alignment. It is constructed of coursed, shaped sandstone and ironstone blocks with a roof of Welsh Slate, gabled at the north and south ends. The main, east facing elevation is of four bays with regular fenestration of nine light windows, the central panel side hung at the ground and first floor level; and four light casement windows at second floor level. Timber lintels carry the wall over these windows. A light well, to the cellar, is also present between the two northerly bays. Two doorways at the southern extent of the elevation allow passage into the entrance hall and a through passage to the garden at the rear of the building . A low stone wall or kerb with iron railings runs the length of the elevation. Brick chimneys are built both centrally to the building and at the south gable.

<1> Bassir A., 2014, Historic building recording at Town Farm, 18 High Street, Brackley, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN110057.

<2> Horne, B (editor), 2015, South Midlands Archaeology (45), p. 38 (Journal). SNN111358.

Record last edited

Jan 29 2019 10:44AM