Description

NORTH HILL SX 27 NE 4/78 East Berriow 22.11.60 GV II* House. Probably early C16, possibly with earlier origins. Stone rubble with varying masonry techniques including laced courses of slate stone and granite. The rear elevation of the house is painted. Bitumen coated slate roof with gable ends and some early crested ridge tiles. Stone rubble end stacks with cloam oven projection to right hand stack. Plan: Original arrangement uncertain. The house has a 2 room and through passage plan with large room, probably the hall, on left and smaller room on right, both heated by end stacks. There is a thick stone rubble cross wall on the lower (right hand side) of the passage which continues up to first floor level and a plaster partition, possibly covering or replacing earlier screen on higher left hand side of the passage. It is possible that part of the house may have been originally open to to roof. The ceiling beams in the hall are multiple moulded suggesting a late C16 date for the flooring of the hall. It is uncertain whether the house originally had an open hearth, although there are several pieces of blackened roof trusses which have been reset in the right-hand room and support the ceiling beams. It is therefore probable that the roof structure was replaced contemporary with the flooring of the right hand room. The porch in front of the entrance and stair turret are probably late C16 or early C17. Exterior: Two storeys. Porch to right of centre, of granite rubble with large dressed granite quoins and lean-to slate roof. Chamfered granite 4-centred arch with flat stops. Granite open channel or runnel outside to front right. To right 2-light mullion window with leaded glass and hood mould. Square-plan stair projection to left of porch, the stair lit by a C19 20-pane sash. Renewed 20-pane sash to far left with 6-pane sash above. There are several straight joints and blocked openings in this elevation, with several masonry techniques. Rear elevation of 2-storey with asymmetrical 3-window front. Straight joint to right of centre. 4-centred hollow chamfered granite arch with stepped stops. C20 window to left and 2-light mullion window to right, the mullion removed. 20-pane sash to far right. First floor with two 20-pane sashes flanking 2-light casement. Interior: Hollow chamfered granite almost 2-centred arch to inner doorway with stepped stops and drawbar. Through passage with granite flags. Thick cross wall on lower side of passage and lath and plaster partition on higher left hand side, possibly covering earlier hall screen. The smaller right hand room has a chamfered timber doorframe partly covered by a later door frame. Above the doorframe are several pieces of possibly sooty reused roof trusses which probably come from the earlier roof structure. Adjoining the fireplace is one smoke-blackened section of a truss which is curved and has a mortice for an arch brace or collar. Massive deep chamfered cross beam with stepped stops. High quality fireplace of ashlar stone with multiple moulded lintel and jambs, the right-hand jamb reset. In the hall the two cross beams are multiple moulded with two hollow chamfers flanking an ovolo mould. The floor joists are also moulded with cavetto and ovolo moulds and both the beams and joists have stepped stops. On the higher side the joists have been partly replaced and the lower right hand side of the cross beam nearest the passage which functions as a bressummer for a jetty-type arrangement is unmoulded and covered by plaster (information from owners). The partition above this beam continues up into the roof structure (to below collar level) and the first floor level changes correspondingly. However, as both the cross beams have identical moulding a jetty is unlikely. The hall fireplace has been remodelled and an internal partition inserted to divide the hall. On rear wall a granite corbelled bracked which appears to predate the flooring of the hall; possibly a shelf for a candle or alternatively a corbel to support the foot of a cruck truss. Circa C17 stair in square-plan turret, the treads radiating from a central solid core. Roof structure appears to have been replaced in the C17, 4 trusses which are halved, lapped and pegged at the apices, trenched purlins and slightly cambered collars, halved, lap-jointed and pegged onto the face of the principals. Later circa late C18 or C19 roof structure above. There appears to be two pieces of blackened timber reused in the C17 roof structure in the partition above the putative jetty-type arrangement. One piece is unmoulded whilst the other is a piece of reset muntin which is moulded and grooved. House of Sampson Jakeman temp Mary I. Jakeman was prosecuted for his support of Elizabeth I. (Information from owners). Particularly interesting and unusual survival for Cornwall. A full detailed survey may help a fuller analysis of the development of the plan. Chesher, V.M. and F.J. The Cornishman's House, 1968.

Listing NGR: SX2713075833

External Links

• Wikidata Q17565055

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Recommended Books

• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)