Horsepool Farmhouse

Horsepool Farmhouse is a former farmhouse of 17th century or earlier date, situated in St Mellion. The building demonstrates the evolution typical of vernacular farmhouses, incorporating multiple phases of construction and later extensions and renovations.

The farmhouse is constructed largely of rendered cob and rubble stone with a thatched roof. Two slate-roofed lean-to porches stand on the south side, and a weatherboarded timber porch is positioned to the north.

The building follows an irregular plan. A low single-cell range occupies the east end, with a stack to the eastern gable. This was extended westward, with the central portion set back. Originally a wide cross passage, this central area now functions as an entrance lobby with porch. A further room lies to the west, with a stack to the former western gable and a protruding semicircular winder stairwell to the north or rear. In the late 20th century, a two-storey extension was added to the far west, accompanied by a single-storey porch to the north.

The south or farmyard elevation presents an asymmetrical appearance with two roof heights, two lean-to porches, and irregular fenestration featuring 20th-century timber windows of various sizes. The main entrance is through the westernmost porch, formerly open and now fitted with wide 20th-century timber plank doors. Above this entrance porch is a single window, with five further windows to its west: three on the ground floor and two on the first floor. An axial stack is located on an earlier western gable. To the east of the porch stands a lower range, its ground floor largely occupied by a wide lean-to open porch of stone and cob with a slate roof and 20th-century French windows. Above this porch is a small single window below the eaves. The eastern gable contains a protruding stack with a cloam oven—a clay oven with removable clay door, typically found in farmhouses in Devon and Cornwall. A single ground-floor window with timber lintel stands to the south of the stack, with a similar first-floor window to the north.

The lower range of the north or rear elevation is blank, showing evidence of infilled former doorways and windows. The higher range has two ground-floor windows and one on the first floor. Towards the west is a protruding semicircular or turret stairwell lit by a single rectangular window. To the far west stands a protruding 1½-storey 20th-century timber porch with timber-mullioned windows beneath the extended catslide thatched roof.

The entrance lobby provides access to a ground-floor lavatory opposite, with the living room to the right. The living room features an open joist ceiling and a fireplace with granite lintel and cloam oven. Some ceiling joists have been replaced and a former staircase in the north-west angle removed. To the left is the dining room, containing an infilled former fireplace and a bible cupboard set within the thickness of the rear wall, with access to the turret staircase with winder stair. Further west is a modern kitchen and porch extension.

First-floor accommodation is built within the eaves and partially into the roof space. To the east is a large second bedroom and bathroom containing two exposed original roof trusses. These are single-framed with half-lapped apex joints and cambered collars.

The farmhouse incorporates more than one building phase. The lower easternmost range is believed to represent the earlier phase as a simple single-cell dwelling, later extended with a larger and higher range added to the west. Subsequently, the farmhouse was divided into two cottages. Following a period of dereliction, it was renovated and extended with Listed Building Consent.

Horsepool Farmhouse is designated Grade II as a good example of an evolved vernacular farmhouse of 17th to 18th-century date, retaining notable features including a cloam oven and winder stair.