| Description | Fold Farm, Warley. Laithe house dated 1831.
Fold Farm was the subject of an archaeological assessment by Colum Giles in 1980 as part of the WYAS/RCHME Rural Houses Survey. The photographic images and sketch plan produced by the assessment are held by WYAAS. The fieldwork report is transcribed below:
'This is stone laithe house, dated 1831. It faces south and is built of coursed rubble masonry. The dwelling part is a single subdivided cell and of two storeys. The windows have square mullions flush with the surface of the wall; the lights are broad, possibly designed to give sash openings. The house was entered through the doorway at the south east angle; the door opens straight into the main living room/kitchen. This is heated by a fireplace on the wall dividing house from laithe; the fireplace has a square un chamfered surround. A thin stone wall divides the main room from the service room at the rear; the service room was used for the storage of food, for the cold slabs still survive. Also at the rear are the stairs leading to the chambers and the steps down to what may be an original cellar. The rear room has an original back door. There appears to have been a door connecting the main room with the laithe, but this has been blocked and it is impossible to tell whether it is original.
The laithe has a wide doorway in the south wall; the doorway has a round arch and the raised keystone is inscribed 'G B 1831'. There is no doorway in the north wall of the laithe to give a through draft for a winnowing floor; this suggests that the laithe was used predominantly for the housing of livestock and fodder. The height and situation of the farm would certainly suggest that few arable crops could be grown.
In perhaps the mid 19th century and outshut was added to the east gable of the house. This provides a wash house/scullery (the remains of the fireplace and set pot survive) to the south and a small unheated room to the north. Attached to the west gable is a privy; it is difficult to date this structure, but it is possibly of 19th century dates'.
(Giles, C. (WYAS/RCHME). 1980. 'Fold, Warley').
The house may have been restored to usefulness since Giles's visit in1980. The images from this time depict a house with roof but no doors or windows. There are now cars parked outside (https://maps.google.co.uk/. Web site accessed 08/01/2014). |