Listed Building record MDR11352 - Church Farm Farmhouse, Off Church Street, Ockbrook

Church Farm farmhouse, off Church Street, Ockbrook, a 17th century building. 'Church Farm House began as two separate timber-framed small houses/large cottages of equivalent size, both about 5.5m long and the same distance apart. These had square panels set on stone plinths; wattle and daub infill between the timbers was later replaced by brick nogging. Both buildings were two storeys high with a single or partitioned room on each floor and with a garret in the roofspace. Differences in ceiling heights and other features suggest that the north building is earlier than the south one, although both are probably of 17th century date. Probably somewhere between 1750 and 1773 the two buildings were brought together by the infilling of the central area, to create a 3-bay long building. A short west wing was added, together with a cellar; other alterations were also made to the existing buildings. Church Farm is referred to in 1773 as The Homestead. Earlier, in c1700, the farm and its land had been bought by Dane Mary Lake from Robert Piggen, a descendant of one of ten yeomen who had between themselves bought the manor in 1583. The farm may well have existed at that time. It was farmed until about the Second World War, after which it became part of a dairy and later a riding school. Various farm buildings were sold off, but the farmhouse remained disused for over 30 years.' (1) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF OCKBROOK CHURCH STREET SK 42 35 6/57 (East Side) Church Farmhouse GV II Farmhouse. C17, partly rebuilt in C19 and C20, also with C20 additions. Square panel timber framing with corner braces to top and painted brick nogging, on deep stone plinth. Additions in brick. Steeply pitched plain tile roofs on two levels with brick gable stacks to north. Four bays, two storeys to two northern bays and two storeys plus garrets to two southern bays. Main elevation has a C20 leaded casement to north in lower part and to south is a large C20 lean-to with C20 window, C19 plank door and a pair of adjoining glazing bar sashes to south. Above, to north there are two similar C20 casement windows and to south there is an adjoining pair of small glazing bar sashes over the C20 window. South gable wall onto the churchyard has a similar pair of sashes to first floor and above, a queen post truss with high collar and a small horizontal sliding sash, near the top. Rear of the farmhouse has a gabled staircase turret surrounded by later additions. Listing NGR: SK4239635731.' (2)