Description

BUCKLAND MONACHORUM SX 56 NW 4/39 Uphill 21.3.67

- II*

House, originally farmhouse. Probably C16 origins, considerably altered and extended at various stages in the C17 and partially refenestrated in C18. Rubble walls rendered at the front. Mainly rendered stacks : one axial to left-hand wing where it joins main block, one just set in from gable on very small wing at rear; 2 axial stacks to right-hand wing, the right one was originally a gable end stack. Original plan likely to have been 3-room and through passage, lower room to the right possibly with newel stairs at the rear. Hall heated by rear lateral stack. Inner and lower rooms both heated by front lateral stack although it is possible that these were added with the front wings. Behind the hall's rear lateral stack there is a small chamber on the 1st floor in a small gabled projection whcih seems to be solid masonry on the ground floor below; the chamber was lit by a small window and it could have been a garderobe. In circa-mid C17 a wing was added at the front of the inner room with a non-domestic function : shippon on ground floor and either hay loft or granary above. In the mid C17 the house was remodelled internally with new screen to the passage and a staircase inserted adjacent to the lower end of the passage reducing the size of the lower room. The house was probably re-roofed at this stage with raised eaves. In the later C17 a parlour was added at the front of the lower room heated by a gable end stack. Probably in the C18 a store-room was added at the end of this room. The house was partially re-fenestrated at this stage. A small outbuilding was added behind the hall in the C19. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical front with roughly equal size wings projecting to front at each end. Central block has 3-window front of C18 casements, 2 lights on first floor, 3 lights on ground floor, with H-L hinges. First floor left-hand window has original bottle glass. On ground floor to right is pointed arched granite doorway with hollow and roll moulding and convex stops. Scratched on the inside of left- hand jamb is "John Reed" on the right-hand one is 1720. C18 gabled doorhood above probably corresponds to this date and possibly the windows also. C19 arched 2- panelled door. Inner face of left-hand wing has 2 granite framed slit windows to the right on the ground floor. To the left on first floor is chamfered granite- framed light, below it is a C20 similar reproduction window which replaces a wooden mullion window formerly there. On the outer face of this wing near the gable end are stone steps leading to the first floor. The inner face of the right-hand wing has a mid C19 tripartite 20-pane sash window to the right on the ground floor. Above it is an C18 2-light casement with small panes and iron stanchion bar, to its right is a similar window. At the far right on the ground floor is an C18 6-panel door, the top 2 panels fielded. At rear to left-hand end on ground floor is remains of 2-light chamfered granite mullion window from which the mullions have been removed. Above it is 2-light early C18 casement with leaded panes and stanchion bar. To their right is 2-storey leanto projection incorporating the arched head of a granite framed window; this is possibly a rebuilding of a newel stair projection. At the centre is the segmental headed granite doorway at the rear of the passage, with broad chamfer and convex stops. To its right is a stone trough with old pump adjoining; these are all under a leanto roof forming a porch between the projection to the left and a small wing to the right. This wing is built out from the hall lateral stack which is itself in a small gable. On its left-hand side the wing has a segmental headed granite framed light on the first floor. C19 single storey outbuilding forms extension to the wing. Beyond it on the ground floor is 2-light leaded pane C18 casement and to its right is later C18 2-light casement with small panes. C19 casement above with single light C20 casement to its left. Interior is very unaltered and preserves a number of good features from various periods. The screens passage has a mid-late C17 softwood plank and muntin screen to either side; the muntins have beaded edges. The hall to the left has rough fairly insubstantial cross beams, it is possible that in a house of this quality there may formerly have been a plaster ceiling here. The hall fireplace has had its lintel removed, the stone jambs are chamfered at the bottom and there are 2 ovens. At the inner end of the hall is a bench against a panelled partition both circa mid C17. Good quality mid C17 open well staircase has closed string, square newels with ball finials and turned balusters. Heading to the front parlour is a later C17 wooden doorframe, ovolo-moulded with high hollow step stops. The parlour has fielded panelling to chair rail height and a coved cornice; bolection moulded fireplace with arched niche to either side which has dropped mock keystone. The room over the parlour has 2 old wall cupboards : one is C17 with lozenge design on panelled doors and H-hinges, the other is C18 with fielded panelled doors and H- hinges. On the landing at the top of the stairs, probably contemporary, are 3 C17 wooden doorframes with shallow ovolo-moulding and hollow step stops. 2 of them contain contemporary doors which are studded and panelled with beading to stiles and muntins. Probably C17 roof trusses over main range : substantial principal rafters with threaded and trenched purlins and the collars, some curved, halved onto the trusses. This is an important house for several reasons : it shows an interesting development of plan whereby a shippon was added as a front wing at higher end of the house and slightly later a parlour wing was added at the front of the lower end causing a change of room use when the hall was probably relegated to kitchen status. The location of a very small first floor room behind a stack is an unusual feature and might have been a garderobe which suggests a fairly sophisticated C16 house. The good quality C17 carpentry features reflect a rise in status at this period and are notable for a house of this scale in West Devon. Altogether the building has been little altered internally or externally since the C18 and preserves a remarkable number of old windows which contribute greatly to its traditional appearance.

Listing NGR: SX5021465962

External Links

• Wikidata Q17536957

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Recommended Books

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