The survey comprised a Historic Building Survey (Descriptive) of the existing house and two outbuildings prior to refurbishment works. The building exteriors were recorded front and rear, as well as the interiors. Numerous photographs were taken documenting the state of the buildings, as well as the finer details of their architectural style, distinctive features, fixtures and fittings. The overall level of detail of the historic building survey was in line with level two standards of recording, comprising a descriptive record with a site plan and general internal and external photographs. A decision was made on site not to access the attic, as safety couldn't be guaranteed. Therefore, a photograph of the access hatch was taken. Access to the interior of the northeastern extent of Ivy House could not be gained, due to its use as a separate residence, therefore the historic building recording ends with the conservatory and the room behind it. The site was recorded at a level commensurate to a level two historic building recording. Ivy House was found to have several periods of internal and external alteration, particularly in the ground and first floors, where modern fittings were most prominent. However, several original features, such as the stone mantlepieces, wooden ceiling beams and the possible coal shute in the cellar, have survived. The overall plan of the building appears to remain unchanged from the 1997 OS First Edition, indicating that the two-storey extension to the northeast was added from at least the late 19th century. It appears that this extension did continue to the south, as it does presently; however, the conservatory and the two-storey front extension that form the current southern projection appear to be modern additions from the 1960's-1970's. They may therefore have replaced earlier structures. The outbuildings are a good example of farming buildings of this era and include a number of features associated horse stabling. Both buildings 2 and 3, as well as the structures resembling the garage, stable and smaller barn behind barn 3 can all be seen in the 1887 OS First Edition, indicating that the farmhouse and the outbuildings have been a group since the late 19th century. Therefore, the group value of Ivy House and the outbuildings is of interest, showing the practicalities of a 19th century working farm of this relatively small size and scale. Unfortunately, as most of the outbuildings have been converted over to residential use, access to their interiors could not be gained, thus our knowledge of the survival of interior features is limited.
Charlotte Manning (Wed,) studied this question.