Listed Building: TOLLGATE FARMHOUSE (433473)

GREAT BLAKENHAM STOWMARKET ROAD TM 15 SW 3/54 Tollgate Farmhouse 9.12.55 - II Farmhouse, c.1500 with alterations of c.1600 and late C19. Cross-passage entrance plan, extended at either end c.1600. 2 storeys. Timber-framed and plastered; the right hand gable is jettied on exposed knees and moulded pilasters. Plaintiled roofs with pierced crested ridge tiles and C19 bargeboards with undulating soffits. An axial chimney of c.1600 and an end chimney at left of C19; both of red brick. 3-light C19 small-pane casements, the ground storey windows also having square upper lights. 4-panelled C19 entrance door with open gabled porch on timber posts. The nucleus of the house consists of a late-mediaeval open hall house; a pair of arched service room doorways and a smoke-blackened crown-post roof are of this date. The open truss has an octagonal crownpost with moulded capital and base and 4-way knee bracing; the tie-beam below has lost its arch braces. A wall-place over the entrance has fine carving - a running design is interrupted by fleur-de- lys and stylised animals, in the style of late C16; the context is anomalous and perhaps an apprentice's practice. An upper floor was inserted in the hall c.1600 with a fireplace backing onto the cross-passage, and a parlour added beyond perhaps later. A 2-cell wing was built c.1600 behind the service end, detached until C19. It has good quality timber framing including butt-purlin roof with wind-bracing, also a large blocked ovolo-moulded mullioned window. The upper floor of the front room has fine roll mouldings, and the bridging joist is also crenellated; this is early C16 work and must be reused, perhaps from a demolished parlour from the earlier house. Listing NGR: TM1182150693