RETROSPECTIVE Listed Building Consent is being sought to help preserve a Grade II Listed Farmhouse in Warrington, which dates back to medieval times.
Work has been ongoing at Collins Green Farm on Penford Lane, Collins Green, Warrington, which had fallen into a state of disrepair under previous owners.
Now the new owners are seeking retrospective Listed Building Consent for a proposed roof replacement to the existing structure, external wall reinstatement, repairs to medieval timber frame, and internal floor reinstatement.
The proposed works seek to carry out emergency propping up works and shoring to safeguard those working on the building from any further structural collapses and carry out a number of repair issues.
A Heritage Statement supporting the listed building consent application for the retrospective and proposed emergency works and repairs at the Grade II listed building has been submitted to Warrington Borough Council planners will make a decision under delegated powers.
The proposal site is accessed along a private lane off Penkfold Lane. The site consists of a Grade II listed farmhouse, which is in a structurally unsound condition in need of emergency works and repairs.
The farmhouse is screened from Penkfold Lane by a high overgrown hedgerow. Located to the rear of the farmhouse are two large agricultural buildings, which, historically, along with the farmhouse
formed Collins Green Farm.
The Grade II listed building is a detached dwelling former farmhouse. The property comprises of a central stack, a northern wing and a gable at the southern end. At the central stack and northern wing, the property is two storeys, and at the southern cross gable the property is three storeys. The building has suffered significant neglect over the years, with substantial vegetation growth leading to localised collapses of the roof, walls, and floors. Owing to longstanding neglect and the resultant deterioration of the building fabric, numerous acro props and timber posts have already been installed throughout the property. Additionally, many of the existing windows have been boarded over and secured with acro props and scaffold tubes.
Originally, the dwelling was a farmhouse extended over the centuries. The former farmhouse retains the possible survival of a parlour of a medieval timber-framed hall house, which was later encased in brick, underwent remodelling in the 17th century, with the addition of a late 17th century cross wing and further 19th and 20th century alterations. The is an 18th-century storey wing attached to the central medieval section. The surviving fabric and layout plan of the building relates to the building’s development. It retains interior features from each phrase of the development, including a seven-light timber diamond mullioned window and sections of timber framing, 17th-century floors, chamfered and moulded beams, along with a good late 17th-century stair. The high quality and design of interior features, display the use of skilled local craftsmanship, reflecting the building’s earlier high status and Grade II listing status.
The former farmhouse is potentially the remains of a timber frame medieval parlour house encased in brick in the 17th C. A building is depicted on the 1837-8 tithe map of Warrington. Plot no. 83 is listed as house, outbuildings and garden, owned by Sir Henry Bold Hoghton Baronet and occupied by Thomas Kelshall. The house has had many extensions and alterations, with the use altering from a timber-framed house of notable standing, to a farmhouse, to a house suffering from many decades of neglect with serious structural issues.
The building has recently come under new ownership and the owners would like to repair the property and make alterations to allow a viable residential use. Under previous ownership, the building experienced significant neglect, resulting in vegetation growth that led to localized roof, wall, and floor collapses. The new owners have since installed first-floor joists to the central stack and northern wing, partially boarding these areas with chipboard. Timber posts have also been added in multiple locations to provide structural support as needed. Due to prior deterioration of the building materials, several acro props and timber posts are present throughout the property. Additionally, many existing windows have been boarded up and secured using acro props and scaffold tubes.
As a Grade II listed structure, Collins Green Farmhouse is of national importance. Its significance is derived primarily from the remaining possible survival of a medieval timber-framed hall house, which was later encased in brick, which underwent remodelling in the 17th century and the high quality and design of interior features, display the use of skilled local craftsmanship, reflecting the building’s earlier high status. With reference to the heritage impact assessment guidance, this Grade II listed structure would be afforded a significance level of medium.
The retrospective and proposed emergency repairs will overall have a negligible magnitude of change to the cultural significance of the house, as the elements, which contribute to that significance will be retained and the emergency propping works are temporary. Therefore, weighing the impact of a negligible impact on a heritage asset of medium value, the proposed alterations will have an overall slight beneficial impact on the significance of the house. This assessment is due to the beneficial impact of the necessary repairs, the beneficial impact of the emergency propping works, which, although reversible, will allow the retention of significant historic materials whilst more permanent repairs are designed and approved.
Overall, it is assessed that the retrospective and proposed emergency propping and repairs works will have a slight beneficial impact on the significance of Collins Green Farmhouse.
