Description

CHUDLEIGH SX 88 SE 1/27 Ruggadon 16.8.55 GV II

House. Circa early C16 or earlier origins, late C16 remodelling in 2 phases, some mid/late C17 alterations, C20 renovations. Whitewashed stone rubble; asbestos slate roof, gabled at ends (formerly thatched); right end stack with brick shaft, rear lateral stack, front lateral stone stack with a tall dressed granite shaft. The original plan was a late medieval open hall house, probably 3 rooms wide and divided by low screens, the lower end to the right. In the mid/late C16 the inner room was floored over, jettying into the hall which was floored over at a later date with a front lateral stack added. The evolution of the lower end (now 2 rooms wide) is less clear. A first floor partition suggests that it was 2-storey at a period when the hall was still open and details indicate that it was extended by 1 room, probably in the mid/late C17, this room was heated by the present right end stack. The left hand of the 2 lower end rooms is heated by a rear lateral stack which may be as late as the C18. This seems to suggest the possibility of a late C17 extension and re-arrangement of the house with a parlour at the right end, possibly an unheated service room in the centre (the former lower end room), and the C16 hall used as the kitchen with the inner room at the left an unheated service room to the kitchen. The thatch was removed in the late C20 when a new roof was added above the medieval trusses. A bow window was added on the rear wall of the hall. 2-storeys. Long asymmetrical 6-window front, the inner room and part of the hall (to left of centre) with a slightly lower roofline. The inner room, at the extreme left, is slightly set back from the hall, which is gabled to the left with a large lateral stack wwith set-offs and a projecting semi-circular bread oven. Front door to cross passage to the right of the stack with a wide door; a timber lintel above the present lintel of the doorway may indicate the height of the C16 entrance. Ground floor window left, lighting the inner room, is a 3-light ovolo-moulded mullioned window (formerly 6 narrow lights, 3 mullions have been removed). The fenestration elsewhere is 2 and 3-light casements, C19 and C20 with glazing bars. Additional doorway to right of centre into lower end. Interior Numerous C16 and C17 features. The old roof trusses (except the right hand truss) are jointed crucks with the collars mortised into the principals (apex not inspected) and evidence of smoke-blackening. The right hand truss appears to be of a curved foot design, and may be of a later date. The hall is very complete with high quality details: a chamfered cross beam with step stops; chamfered step stopped joists; massive fireplace with granite jambs and a massive plain timber lintel. The higher end plank and muntin screen has painted decoration on the head beam and evidence of paint on the muntins, the inner room joists project into the hall as a jetty. The screen between hall and passage has chamfered muntins stopped off at hall bench level. The hall was cobbled until the late C20. There is a spring below floor level and a C19 pump and granite water trough survive in the centre of the hall. The inner room has a massive cross beam and closely-spaced joists of large scanthing. The right hand room has a C17 fireplace with stone jambs and an ovolo-moulded lintel with bar stops, the room to the right of the passage has a rear lateral fireplace with stone jambs and a plain low lintel. On the first floor the right hand room has a fireplace similar to the room below. The room over the hall has partition walls of heavy studding, each with an old doorway. 2 plank door with strap hinges between this room and the room over the inner room.

An evolved house with numerous internal features of interest.

Listing NGR: SX8592581613

External Links

• Wikidata Q26618915

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Recommended Books

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)