Higher Lank Farmhouse And Garden Wall To Front

Farmhouse and garden wall at Higher Lank, St Breward. Dated 1627 by datestone, built for Reginald Billing, though possibly with earlier origins. Stone rubble construction, rendered on the front elevation, with a rag slate roof and gable ends. Granite ashlar chimney stack with moulded cap on the left gable end; stone rubble and granite end stack to the right; stone rubble end stack serving the rear left service wing.

The original plan of the house is uncertain, with evidence suggesting it was originally considerably larger. The main range follows a two room and through passage plan. The passage was remodelled in the circa 19th century to create a wide lobby entrance hall, with the lower left partition moved further left and a lateral partition made up to reused panelling. The lower left room, significantly larger than that on the right, is heated by the end stack. The higher right room was originally heated by a rear lateral stack, now removed. A circa 17th century heated service wing of one room lies to the rear of the left hand room. Circa 18th or 19th century additions include an unheated wing to the rear of the passage and a single storey outshot to the rear of the right hand room, later raised to two storeys in the late 20th century. A blocked opening on the first floor of the left gable end suggests the house may originally have extended further to the left.

The exterior presents two storeys with an asymmetrical four window front, remodelled probably in the 19th century with ground floor windows enlarged in the mid-20th century. The original mullioned windows are blocked and partly visible from inside. Late 20th century casements with three-light and two-light casements flank the entrance. A circa 19th century porch, reusing earlier material, features two chamfered granite piers with run-out stops and a three-centred granite arch, chamfered with ball stops and raised balls in the spandrels. The hoodmould stops bear the initials R B (Reginald Billing). Four two-light casements appear on the first floor. A rear entrance door to the passage, now incorporated in a later extension, has a chamfered granite segmental arch with unusual carved stops.

Internally, the entrance passage was remodelled circa 19th century. A panelled oak screen reused to the rear of the lobby features muntins moulded with a central roll flanked by ogees, with strapwork and dentilled cornice above. The left hand room contains a large fireplace with chamfered lintel and chamfered ceiling beams with ornate stops comprising ogee and run-out moulding. The right hand room was originally heated by a rear lateral fireplace with straight cut stops. A circa 19th century fireplace inserted in the right gable end has an unmoulded granite lintel. A segmental granite arch on the higher side of the rear wall fireplace probably originally served a stair projection. On the first floor of the left gable end is a small room now accessible only from within the roof space, with a blocked segmental arch to the opening, chamfered on the lower side, the stops on the jambs similar to those of the rear passage door.

The roof structure comprises eight trusses, morticed at the apices with diagonal set ridge. Chamfered collars are dovetailed with notched and lap-jointed work. The feet of the principals are boxed in but are probably curved.

A stone rubble garden wall runs to the front and side with a mounting block. A datestone inscribed 1627 is reset flanking the gate piers.