[Name NZ 18009787] Bockenfield. (1)

The small 17th century manor house of the Heron's is a narrow building with a frontage of 60ft to the south, and has a central doorway, with two three-light windows on either side. Between the windows and on the external angles of the house are flat pilasters of V-jointed ashlar courses, which terminate above a cable moulding in a carved finial. The doorway is flanked by columns worked in spiral form which support a curved pediment enclosing a shield, helmet and mantling, the former bearing the arms of Heron. All the windows were originally of the same design, enclosed by an architrave formed of an unusual bobbin-like ornament. The surface of the adjoining land is very uneven, and indicates buried foundations of considerable buildings. The estate now belongs to Mr Cuthbert Riddell. (2)

NZ 17919783. Description in authority (2) correct. Bockenfield is a two-storeyed building with modern additions on the north side. Of the eight windows on the south face only four retain their original surrounds and mullions. The building is in excellent condition and in use as a residence. (3)

Condition unchanged. (4)

Bockenfield Farmhouse, Grade II*. House, c.1660 by Robert Trollope for the Heron family. Incorporates earlier fabric. 19th century rear outshut. Front squared stone with dressings, returns rubble. Two-storeys on cellars, four bays. Chamfered plinth. End bays flanked by rusticated pilaster buttresses with pineapple finials below eaves. Central double doors with columns and pediment entablature with Heron arms. Blocked circular window above. Blocked cellar windows, partly buried. Ground floor, bay four window has 17th century fireplace re-used as surround. Returns show earlier walling. (5)

Trollope appears to have remodelled an earlier building. The older part of the house consists of a rectangular four-bay block18.3m by 6.2m externally. The south front, with its pilasters and quirky details, is certainly mid-17th century work, but much thicker walling survives in the west end (1m thick) and western third of the north wall (1.6m thick). The external face of this section of the north wall, visible within the early 19th century rear outshut, shows massive roughly-squared stones and a possible blocked loop. Similar fabric is, however, seen on all other external walls, except for the squared stone of the south front. The roof has been of upper cruck type, with the cruck blades sawn off, leaving stubs in situ and reset to form the principals of principal rafter trusses with collars.
Detailed interpretation of the building is difficult. The excessive thickness of the western section of the north wall can be partly, but probably not wholly, explained by its containing a large fireplace (recently exposed). This, together with two others on the ground floor, is of mid-17th century character. It is probably reasonable to assume that the thick walls represent part of a strong house or late tower, perhaps of 16th century date. What is less easy to ascertain is whether the thinner walls of the east end and remainder of the north side of the main block, with fabric that appears superficially similar, are pre-17th century work that has been cut back in thickness. (6)