The extant farmstead appears to date from the 1860s when it was built as a complete farm. This is supported by the earliest reference that was found for a farm at Three Thorn Hollow in White’s Directory of 1864, which recorded Joseph Marshall as the farmer. (1)

Three Thorn Hollow appears on the 1835 Sanderson map by name only, without field boundaries – the land was not enclosed. The farm and the associated farmbuildings were built as a unified farm complex during the mid 19th century, at a time when there was a large increase in the amount of cattle farming. (2)

The principal building at Three Thorn Hollow Farm is the farmhouse, which is slightly set-back from the highway edge to the west of the farm complex. (1)

The farmhouse is built in coursed magnesium limestone and the roof covering was likely to have been slate historically, but has been replaced with concrete tiles. Former sash windows (now uPVC) (1)(2)

There is no architectural interest to the other aspects of the farmhouse; the remaining elevations are functional in appearance with no planned design approach evident. (1)

The surviving form and layout comprises a representative example of farmsteads constructed at this time and demonstrates the typical farming activities that were undertaken. (1)
The farm complex is built of coursed magnesian limestone with a courtyard of buildings comprising a tall hay barn, with off-set brick-arched former opposing threshing doors for wagons, adjoining enclosed crop storage on two levels, byre or stable, shelter shed and a detached later byre or implement shed. The complex with its courtyard appears to be complete, as designed and laid out in the 1860s or thereabouts, as seen on the 1880 OS map, now converted into housing. The main farmhouse is built in magnesian limestone with a former slate roof (now concrete tiles) and former sash windows (now uPVC). It has a small porch with pointed arched doorway and lancet windows which appears to be contemporary and coeval with a small bay window to the south elevation. (3)

<1> Hannah Hamilton-Rutter & Myk Flitcroft, 2018, Heritage Appraisal: Land at Three Thorn Hollow Farm, Blidworth Lane, Rainworth, Nottinghamshire (Unpublished document). SNT5791.

<2> Melanie Morris, 2018, Heritage Impact Assessment, HELAA - Preferred Options 2013-2033: Site allocations Mansfield District Local Plan 2018 (Unpublished document). SNT5792.

<3> Mansfield District Council, 2004, Mansfield District Council Local List (Published document). SNT5967.