SNN113381 - Historic Building Recording and Historic Building Watching Brief: Manor Farm, 7 Dychurch Lane, Bozeat, Northamptonshire

In November 2021 KDK Archaeology Ltd carried out a Historic Building Recording and Historic Building Watching Brief of Manor Farm, 7 Dychurch Lane, Bozeat, Northamptonshire in order to fulfil Condition 5 of Listed Building Consent for restoration work to the property. Manor Farm is a Grade II listed stone built farmhouse dating to the 17th century. It was originally the main farm belonging to Bozeat Latimers manor and was likely several cottages in its early life. It was later converted to a single large dwelling, probably in the 19th century. A small extension was added to the west side of the house at this time and the building was also partially re-roofed and the windows replaced. The present works entailed the replacement of the roof coverings and the rebuilding of the south chimney, as well as minor interior repairs. This removal of the roof coverings revealed little by way of new information, but showed that the roof timbers were predominantly hand worked, with a large number of 19th century replacements, and a membrane had been laid beneath the clay tiles in the 20th century. Examination of the chimney stack showed that the lime pointing in the bricks had failed due to weathering, and that limestone blocks beneath the brickwork had been cement rendered in the modern period, protecting the stone from the weather but causing damage due to the unsympathetic material.