Methleigh Farmhouse

Methleigh Farmhouse is a large farmhouse, largely dating to the 18th century, though built on the site of a manor recorded in the Doomsday Book. The front range was rebuilt in the mid-19th century on the footprint of an earlier house. The front is constructed of granite ashlar with a plinth, a mid-floor band, rusticated quoins, and shallow segmental arches with projecting keyblocks. The remaining walls are of rubble with granite dressings, including rusticated quoins to the rear of the main block. It has a gabled slate roof with very deep eaves supported by widely-spaced paired brackets to the front range, and scantle slate roofing to the rear wing. The farmhouse has two large rubble lateral stacks with granite entablatures to the rear wall of the front range, a similar axial stack to the left of the centre, and a brick stack to the rear gable of the wing.

The building is in a large L-shape, comprising a double-depth front range and a 18th-century rear wing set at right angles to the left. The symmetrical front has five windows across two storeys. The windows are largely mid- to late-19th century twelve-pane horns sash windows. The central doorway has a V-jointed door and overlight, both of a similar date. The rear elevation features small windows, with the exceptions of a wide tripartite stair window and a wide doorway on the left, both also with V-jointed doors. The rear wing has a six-window range. Most windows are early or mid-19th century sashes, although two horned copies are on the first floor to the left, and there is a later three-light casement and a wide three-light casement towards the right. A possible 18th-century door with wide planks is found at a central doorway. The rear, or courtyard front, is arranged with a 1:2:1 bay layout. The left side has an early 19th-century 20-pane sash window on the first floor, while the remaining windows are early 19th-century horizontal-sliding sashes with glazing bars. The central bays are formed by a lean-to staircase and pantry projection.

The interior of the rear wing was inspected, revealing two large fireplaces. One fireplace was partly rebuilt in the mid-19th century with a cloam oven, the other appears to be of 18th century construction and incorporates a fragment of a 17th-century chamfered granite mullioned window. Irregular ceiling joists are present, some of which are likely 18th century; one has a bowtell-moulded edge and a bowed shape, possibly from reused ship timber. There are also plank and muntin partitions and a dowelled pantry screen. The interior of the front range was not inspected, but contains a contemporary staircase with a lattice child-gate at the base and a modillion cornice in the entrance hall.

The estate was sold in 1283-5 to Serlo de Nansladron, then passed to the Arundel family by marriage. The estate was sold to the Coode family around 1702.