Listed Building record MDR10687 - Castle Farm Farmhouse and Outbuildings, Castle Street, Melbourne

Castle Farm farmhouse and outbuildings, Castle Street, Melbourne, originally built c1605. 'Castle Farm lies on the east side of what was once the market place, in front of the castle ruins, and some of the outbuildings are actually built against the castle walls from which the facing stone has been robbed. There is a wide yard to the northeast of the house surrounded by former farm buildings, including a barn and one wall of a dovecote with nesting boxes and perches. The house itself is built of brick on a stone plinth with stone quoins on three of the corners. Melbourne Castle was sold in 1604, and by 1612 there is evidence that stone bought from the castle was being used in other buildings. On an enclosure map of Melbourne dated 1630 a house is shown on the site of Castle Farm, and it seems likely that it was built as a simple rectangle about 1605. In the middle of the 17th century the house was reconstructed to create usable attics by the installation of a further stair and upper cruck trusses to the raised eaves. Soon after 1735 the house was remodelled, and an additional wing was built to provide a dining room. The outbuilding forming the kitchen was not linked to the house before the later 19th century. A porch and conservatory were built in the 20th century.' (1) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 38/3925 PARISH OF MELBOURNE CASTLE STREET 6/54 (East Side) 10.11.67 Castle Farmhouse and Ruins of Melbourne Castle and Outbuildings GV II Farmhouse and attached castle walls with outbuildings. c1311, with C15 and C16 additions, and early C18 with C19 and C20 alterations and additions. Farmhouse is of red brick, on stone plinth, with flush stone quoins and plain tile roof with brick coped gables and central brick ridge stack. Castle walls are of ashlar and rubble stone. Farmhouse is two storeys plus attics and has three bays, plus single storey wing to east. Main elevation to east has ground floor covered by a glazed lean-to with a brick porch to south end. Behind this there is a flat headed 2-light casement window to north, a wide central segment headed 3-light window, and a C19 four-centred arched doorcase between, with studded C20 door. Beyond to south the single storey wing has two C20 3-light windows. Above there are two tall flat headed 2-light windows with a small blocked opening between. Above again in the attics there are five gabled roof dormers. North gable wall has segment headed 3-light windows to ground and first floors, plus a tall similar 2-light window above. East elevation has a similar mixture of segment headed and flat headed windows. All windows have C20 leaded casements. Attached to east of the farmhouse is the tall rubble castle wall, standing approximately 20 feet high and continuing about 20 yards to the east. North side has various later brick outbuildings attached to it and south side has been excavated to the east end to reveal the moulded ashlar plinths to two polygonal towers. Interior of the farmhouse has three large raised oak cruck trusses in the attic and the remains of an oak newel staircase. There are large chamfered beams to ground and first floors, probably re-used from the castle, and there are various re-used C17 and C18 doors, from other houses. The castle was built about 1311 when a licence to crenellate was given by the Duke of Lancaster to Robert Holland. Extensive repairs were carried out between 1483-5. It was sold in 1604, by the Crown who were then the owners to the Earl of Huntingdon, who demolished it in 1637. Sources - see HMSO 'The flings Works' Vol II, Pg 738. Listing NGR: SK3886525230.' (2)