Description

DUNCHIDEOCK SX 88 NE

3/11 - Lyalls Cottage

GV II

House. Circa early C16 origins, remodelled in the circa late C16, partial rebuilding, possibly of the C18, C20 alterations. Stone rubble and cob, the front elevation and the rear of the higher (left) end whitewashed and rendered, the rest of the rear elevation unrendered stone rubble; thatched roof to main range, half-hipped at left end, hipped at right end; front lateral stack with tall rendered shaft,axial stack with paired brick shafts, small additional chimney with brick shaft on front at extreme left. The present plan is a single depth main range, 4 rooms wide, with a cross passage to left of centre. At the right (lower) end there is a small wing at right angles to the front of the main range containing a C19 stair. The original plan was an open hall house, although not enough visible evidence at time of survey (1985) to establish how extensive the medieval house was. In spite of the position of the present cross passage, which suggests that the left end of the house was the lower end, the site slopes from the left down to right and it seems likely that the original passage no longer exists and was to right of centre, giving a 3 room plan with the inner room to the left, with a rounded rear stair turret to the inner room. The hall is heated by the front lateral stack, the putative lower end by the axial stack (formerly gable end), the putative inner room heated by the front left stack which is probably a C20 addition. C20 alterations have included re-siting the hall screen (which is at the lower end), making the hall slightly smaller: a second screen is said to have been removed. 2 storeys. Irregular 5 window front, the eaves thatch eyebrowed over the first floor windows. Front door to present cross passage to left of centre with a C20 porch with a tiled roof; approximately central projecting front lateral stack with tall shaft. Fenestration of 2- and 3- light casements,C19 and C20, with glazing bars except for 1 C18 window on the first floor to the right of the stack which is a 3-light casement with square leaded panes and HL hinges. The rear elevation has a C20 thatched porch and doorway which may indicate the position of the original passage. However, adjacent to the rounded stair turret of the inner room a blocked doorway is opposed to the front door of the present cross passage. Interior: The outstanding feature of the interior is the plank and muntin sreen at the lower end of the hall. The screen has been moved and the position of the doorway altered involving the re-siting of some, perhaps all, of the planks and muntins relative to the head beam but there is a remarkable survival of circa early C16 painted decoration with floral designs on both planks,muntins and head beam and 1 figure, probably an ecclesiastic with a mitre and hands raised in blessing. The hall fireplace has brecchia ashlar jambs and a timber lintel. To the right of the hall the (putative) lower end room has a cross beam with straight cut stops and exposed joists. The position of a first floor partition indicates that the first floor right hand room originally jettied into the hall. The principal rafters are boxed in and the roofspace is only partially accessible (time of survey,1985) but the apex of one smoke-blackened roof truss is visible over the hall. In spite of the uncertainty about the original plan of Lyalls Cottage it is clearly a late medieval house of high status with an outstanding survival in the painted hall screen.

Listing NGR: SX8811886262

External Links

• Wikidata Q26618961

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