15 Bull hill road
Address: 15 Bull Hill Road
Contemporary Building Name: Hillfield Farm
Historic Building Name: A. Skinner House
Present Use: Residential
Historic Use: Farmhouse
Architectural style: Greek Revival
Date constructed: c. 1840 (Baber)
Description: The house at Hillfield Farm dominates the farm site from its elevated location. In the three-bay facade the doorway to the right (west) is flanked by plain pilasters which support an entablature with a row of five transom lights and a modillion course under the narrow crown molding. The surrounds of the 12-over-12 windows are obscured by the aluminum siding. The fenestration as a group is off center to the east. Building corners are defined by narrow paneled pilasters. The height of the pediment is low for its width, but it is well-recessed and has cornice and raking cornices of cyma moldings. The central window is a vertical 6-over-6, a not-uncommon feature in Marlborough. The original surface of the tympanum is covered over by the siding, which extends to the raking cornices probably also covering the raking friezes. Windows on the west side elevation are placed in a 1-2 rhythm, while a large central brick chimney rises from the roof ridge. A shed roof covers the 10-foot rear addition. Several outbuildings are located to the rear, with a riding-ring paddock on the east side of the house. The premises appear to be a working horse farm although the size of the property is shown by the fieldcard to be only 1.4 acres.
Significance: The house at Hillfield Farm is significant architecturally because it is an example of the Greek Revival style exhibiting several features of the style in a more attenuated interpretation than is commonly found. The pilasters flanking the doorway, the crown molding of the cornice above, the corner pilasters of the house, and the pediment's cornice moldings are all thinner and more refined -- less bold, than is characteristic of the style. Such attenuation is more often found in the Federal style, which preceded the Greek Revival, suggesting that this house may have been built before c. 1840. The presence of aluminum siding gives a good example of the visually detrimental effects of applying such siding. The wall-plane relationship between the window surrounds and the walls is diminished -- there is less reveal; and the original design of the surround is lost. In the pediment the surface of the tympanum is lost, as are the probably raking friezes. The 1869 atlas identifies the house with the name A. Skinner.
Sources: Baber, David. Capitol Region Council of Governments Historic Resource Survey of Marlborough, 1978.
Ransom, David. Historic and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 3, 2007 12:10 PM
Contemporary Building Name: Hillfield Farm
Historic Building Name: A. Skinner House
Present Use: Residential
Historic Use: Farmhouse
Architectural style: Greek Revival
Date constructed: c. 1840 (Baber)
Description: The house at Hillfield Farm dominates the farm site from its elevated location. In the three-bay facade the doorway to the right (west) is flanked by plain pilasters which support an entablature with a row of five transom lights and a modillion course under the narrow crown molding. The surrounds of the 12-over-12 windows are obscured by the aluminum siding. The fenestration as a group is off center to the east. Building corners are defined by narrow paneled pilasters. The height of the pediment is low for its width, but it is well-recessed and has cornice and raking cornices of cyma moldings. The central window is a vertical 6-over-6, a not-uncommon feature in Marlborough. The original surface of the tympanum is covered over by the siding, which extends to the raking cornices probably also covering the raking friezes. Windows on the west side elevation are placed in a 1-2 rhythm, while a large central brick chimney rises from the roof ridge. A shed roof covers the 10-foot rear addition. Several outbuildings are located to the rear, with a riding-ring paddock on the east side of the house. The premises appear to be a working horse farm although the size of the property is shown by the fieldcard to be only 1.4 acres.
Significance: The house at Hillfield Farm is significant architecturally because it is an example of the Greek Revival style exhibiting several features of the style in a more attenuated interpretation than is commonly found. The pilasters flanking the doorway, the crown molding of the cornice above, the corner pilasters of the house, and the pediment's cornice moldings are all thinner and more refined -- less bold, than is characteristic of the style. Such attenuation is more often found in the Federal style, which preceded the Greek Revival, suggesting that this house may have been built before c. 1840. The presence of aluminum siding gives a good example of the visually detrimental effects of applying such siding. The wall-plane relationship between the window surrounds and the walls is diminished -- there is less reveal; and the original design of the surround is lost. In the pediment the surface of the tympanum is lost, as are the probably raking friezes. The 1869 atlas identifies the house with the name A. Skinner.
Sources: Baber, David. Capitol Region Council of Governments Historic Resource Survey of Marlborough, 1978.
Ransom, David. Historic and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 3, 2007 12:10 PM