SNN108350 - Gate House Farm, Culworth, Northamptonshire: Historic Building Recording, 2012

In September 2012 Oxford Archaeology East conducted a historical building survey on a Grade II listed farmhouse, former bakehouse and a range of outbuildings at Gate House Farm in Culworth, Northamptonshire. This work was carried out in response to a request from Northamptonshire County Council’s Archaeological Advisor and South Northamptonshire’s Conservation Officer. The brief required that a survey, equivalent to an English Heritage Level 3 Survey was carried out on the farmhouse and bakehouse and a Level 2 survey be undertaken on all remaining buildings prior to major alterations to the original fabric. Five main phases of development were identified during the survey spanning four centuries from the construction of the earliest part of the current farmhouse in the late 17th century, and three subsequent significant extensions; the expansion of the farm including the creation of the farm yard in the late 19th century and the conversion of the farm buildings into modern offices in the late 20th century. The earliest map consulted was the 1839 Tithe map which depicts another parallel building range on the western side of the present range. Although there is no evidence to indicate when this was constructed, if it was contemporary with the earliest phases of buildings, the range may have included a threshing barn, hay barns, maltings, brew house or storage for other animals and/or a cart shed. This also suggests the original layout of the farm was directly to the north of the farmhouse as opposed to the shift to the east witnessed in the late 19th and early 20th century. The survey of the farmhouse identified a number of interesting features including blocked- up areas of the cellars, a hidden staircase in the service part of the farmhouse and a wealth of datable fixtures and fittings throughout. There is further potential for more features to be revealed during any future works within the house. The background research also revealed that the house once had additional wings on the road-frontage and a range of outbuildings parallel to those still present. Although modernisation and conversion has removed many original fixtures and fittings from the outbuildings which would help to identify their original use, the listed building descriptions made during the 1980s has helped to interpret the use of one of the buildings as a granary.