Bere Farm, Warnford
We are delighted that planning and listed building consent has been granted for alterations to one of the oldest farmhouse in Hampshire: Bere Farm, Warnford. The proposals involve restoring the character of the interior whilst unpicking crude and damaging late 20th century alterations to early fabric. A detailed heritage and design statement was prepared to illustrate where changes where being made and the age of the fabric affected.
Plans include, restoring the linear arrangement of the principal rooms served by the 18th century corridor to the north of the house and reinstating the medieval hall at the centre of the house. Contemporary alterations involve; a large kitchen to the west of the house and a new master bedroom suite at first floor with uninterrupted views out along the lane.
Bere Farmhouse is an ancient house dating back to 1528. It is unusual as it is a very early floored-hall building - i.e. the hall was never two storeys and timber chimney stacks carried smoke from the hall. Sixteenth century service quarters were replaced in the early seventeenth century. A catslide roof was added to the rear in the 18th century and at the same time the whole house refaced in brick to follow architectural fashion. A Victorian range was added to the east at the end of the 19th century replacing an earlier parlour. The house was sold on the open market in 1978 and since then a number of damaging changes have adversely affected the character of the farmhouse.