Miller's House
Millers house and cottage, now Field Studies Centre. C17 origins, altered C18 and later.
- 4
- Grade 1
Details
The Millers house and cottage, now Field Studies Centre. C17 origins, altered C18 and later. Possibly timberframed, cased in red brick, mainly in Flemish bond but central section in English bond. Plain tiles. 2 storeys and attic. West front: Millers house to left, cottage to right. Millers house of 3 bays, the 3rd bay being in English bond. 2 cross casements under segmental gauged arches, French windows to right. First floor band. Iron tie ends. Cross casements above. Wooden eaves cornice. Hipped dormers with C20 windows. Ridge stack, further stack to ridge right contains brick dated 1619 but this stack has been rebuilt since painting by John Constable of 1812 showing stack in alternative position. Cottage: central staircase projection under pent roof contains door. Casement window under segmental arch to left. First floor band. Iron tie ends. Stepped and dentilled eaves. Small flat-roofed dormer. End ridge stack. East front: Millers House has 2-storey staircase extension in angle with mill of late C18 – early C19 date with a wooden doorcase of Gibbs surround with fanned keyblock and pediment. 12- pane sash in flush architrave under flat gauged brick arch and C20 cross casement under segmental arch. Plinth to part. 4-course first floor band. C20 window above. Wood eaves cornice. Cottage has plank door under segmental arch and wide cambered arch to left, partly blocked, containing later window. C20 window above. Stepped and dentilled eaves. Interior of house: staircase hall with cut -string stair with carved tread ends, stick balusters, slender column newels and ramped handrail. Domed light above. Early C19 fireplaces. One transverse beam with run -out chamfer stops. Flatford Mill came into the possession of the Constable family in the mid C18. This house may have been the birthplace of John Constable as records appear to show that the family house in the village centre was not built until 1779 (Jennings). The latter was sold after the death of Golding Constable, father of John, in the early C19 and Abram and Mary, John’s brother and sister, returned to this house. The Grade I status reflects its significance in the life and work of John Constable. Leased by the National Trust to the Field Studies Council.
- 4
- Grade 1
- Historic England Reference: 1033437