Tresungers

TRESUNGERS

A substantial stone house of circa late 16th-century origin with a prominent three-storey entrance tower added around 1660 for I and M Matthews (as recorded by the datestone IM 1660 MM above the entrance). The building has been extensively altered and remodelled in the early 18th century, early 19th century, and early and mid-20th century.

The structure comprises stone rubble construction with a three-storey tower of ashlar stone and a partly rebuilt front wall of ashlar. Moulded granite strings run across the elevation. The roof is slate with gable ends to the cross wing on the left and a gable end on the right. The most distinctive feature is the battlemented parapet to the projecting three-storey entrance tower on the front elevation. Stone rubble chimney stacks project from the building: a side lateral stack heating the front room of the service cross wing on the left, and a gable end stack to the rear, both with brick shafts. An axial stack at the angle of the main range and cross wing on the left had its shaft removed in the mid-20th century. A projecting rear lateral stone rubble hall stack on the right has a brick shaft.

The original late 16th-century plan appears to have comprised a central range containing a cross passage with the hall at the higher end on the right, heated by a rear lateral stack, and a parlour at the lower end on the left, heated by an axial stack. A timber newel stair was located to the rear at the lower side of the parlour. A service range occupied the cross wing at the lower end. Evidence suggests a now-demolished range may have previously existed at the higher side of the hall, possibly projecting as a cross wing to create an overall H-shaped plan. Around 1660, the front projecting three-storey entrance tower was added, possibly replacing an earlier porch. In the early 18th century, the parlour was substantially remodelled and divided, with a corridor inserted across the front, a dairy to the rear, the area in front of the newel stair divided to form a small stair hall, and the lower stage of the stair remodelled. The parlour fireplace was probably blocked at this time. Around the early 19th century, a further service range was added at the lower end of the cross wing, and the earlier service wing was remodelled, probably with a parlour to the front. In the early 20th century, the hall was partly remodelled with the partition on the higher side of the cross passage removed and a further partition inserted dividing the hall, with a 20th-century stair added. Around the mid-20th century, the front gable end of the cross wing on the left was partly rebuilt.

The front elevation displays two storeys with the three-storey entrance tower. A projecting wing occupies the front left, with the entrance tower to the right of centre. The overall front has five windows arranged regularly. The three-storey tower features a moulded plinth and strings with a battlemented cornice. The principal entrance is a 4-centred granite arch with roll mould, vase-shaped stops, hood mould and incised spandrels. The datestone IM 1660 MM is positioned above this entrance. Although the outer entrance appears somewhat archaic in design, it is identical to the inner entrance, suggesting the design may have been copied. The inner oak door is probably 17th-century, of studded double construction with the outer skin comprising four wide vertical boards grooved with scratch moulds to create the impression of several narrow boards.

The first floor of the tower contains a 4-light mullion window with central king mullion, hollow chamfer, diagonal leaded lights and an opening casement. The second floor has a partly-blocked 3-light mullion window with hood mould. The range to the right of the tower contains a prominent eight-light mullion hall window with alternating king mullions, continuous drip mould (partly removed), and diagonal leaded lights renewed in the 1940s. On the first floor is a 4-light mullion window with central king mullion set within a half-dormer with raking roof and hood mould. To the left of the porch, a range probably remodelled in the mid-18th century has 19th-century sashes. The ground floor displays a 16-pane hornless sash on the left and a blocked window on the right; the first floor has two 16-pane sashes. The projecting wing on the front left has been substantially rebuilt, with mullion windows reset. A 6-light mullion window with alternating king mullions, hood mould, diagonal leaded glass and two small opening casements is prominent; the first floor contains a 4-light mullion window with diagonal leaded glass and two small opening casements.

The rear elevation shows masonry that may have been partly rebuilt. A blocked entrance door is located to the rear of the lower end of the hall. At the rear of the parlour is a circa 16th-century partly blocked granite 4-centred arch with chamfer. A 20th-century rear door is reputed to occupy an earlier opening diagonally opposite the front entrance.

The interior preserves a number of significant features. A circa 17th-century entrance door with draw bar remains in situ. The hall to the right has a blocked fireplace. The parlour was remodelled in circa the early 18th century and now features a moulded plaster cornice to a corridor running across the front, a dairy to the rear with an ovolo-moulded doorframe, and a stair hall in the remodelled lower end. The lower stage of the timber newel stair was remodelled in circa the early 18th century with a closed string, square newel, vase-shaped turned balusters and moulded flat rail. A stair gate with flat asymmetrical vase-shaped balusters is present. The service range in the cross wing on the left was remodelled in the 19th century. The front room contains circa 19th-century panelling, possibly with earlier panelling surviving beneath. On the first floor, a circa 17th-century ovolo-moulded doorcase leads to the solar above the wing, ornamented with carved stepped and scroll stops decorated with carved rosettes. A studied door to the chamber above the hall, circa 17th-century, has moulded cover strips.

The roof structure above the main range and cross wing dates from circa the late 16th century. The main range spans seven bays with principals morticed at apices, originally carrying a diagonal-set ridge. Unchamfered collars display two tiers of holes for threaded purlins (now removed) and common rafters are truncated below collar level. The roof structure above the porch was replaced in circa the 19th century. The cross wing roof comprises seven bays with principals featuring slightly curved feet and morticed apices, originally carrying a threaded diagonal-set ridge (removed). Trenched and threaded purlins (removed) and collars halved, lap-jointed and pegged onto the face of principals. One truss was replaced in circa the mid-20th century.

A circa early 19th-century service range continues from the left-hand side of the cross wing. Built of stone rubble with a slate roof, it is arranged in an L-shaped plan with one and two storeys, enclosing a courtyard on the left and rear, with the right side formed by the main house and a stone rubble wall to the front.

Historical documentation includes a sketch by Frederick Trevan (1833-34) depicting the building with a cross wing at the higher (right-hand) side of the hall, with a gable end to the front and large mullion window on the ground floor. An illustration by Maclean published in 1879 was probably drawn after this wing had been demolished, suggesting significant structural change in the intervening period.