Lavethan

Lavethan is a substantial house of considerable status, dating from the early to mid-16th century, probably with even earlier origins. It was substantially remodelled in the early 17th century, with documented alterations in 1653 (marked by a datestone) and further remodelling in the late 17th or early 18th century.

The house is constructed of local stone rubble with rag and scantle slate roofs with gable ends. Several early crested ridge tiles survive on the southern service wing. The chimneys include two projecting front lateral stacks on the south-east elevations and circa late 16th century moulded granite end stacks to the west and north wings.

The plan is complex, reflecting its lengthy evolution. The main range runs from south-west to north-east, with ground level sloping down to the south-west. A "U"-shaped arrangement is formed by rear wings to the right and left (north and west), with service ranges to the front creating a partly enclosed courtyard in front of the south-east elevation. The original plan remains uncertain, but the existing fabric suggests a house that was substantially larger and more important than many of its contemporaries.

The main range comprises an 11-bay range. The eight lower bays at the south-west end retain circa early 16th century roof trusses of high quality with clean principals and curved feet resting on timber wall plates. The mortices have straight tops and deeply cranked stopped and chamfered soffits like arch bracing. Two tiers of threaded purlins are chamfered with diagonal stops. The three higher bays at the north-east end appear to have been replaced in the late 17th century, marked by a straight joint in the south-east elevation suggesting a partial rebuilding. The rear left-hand wing to the west has a circa 17th century roof and contains two large blocked mullion and transom windows extending from ground to first floor. The rear right-hand wing to the north retains a late 16th century granite moulded end stack but has a late 17th century roof. The front service wing to the left has been partly rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries. The front right-hand wing appears to be circa 17th century in origin. The earlier house likely comprises the left-hand (south-west) and central part of the main range along with the rear left-hand wing, with the right-hand end and rear right-hand wing possibly contemporary but showing signs of later rebuilding. The front service wings were probably rebuilt over earlier ranges, reusing earlier material.

A two-storey porch was added to the south-east elevation in the early 17th century. In the late 17th or early 18th century, the house was reoriented to face north-west. The rear elevation was remodelled and fenestrated to form a new principal front with 12-pane sashes featuring thick glazing bars. The interior underwent comprehensive remodelling including fine panelling and a new stair. The 1653 datestone on the north-west elevation may mark intermediate alterations, though stylistically the panelling and remodelling appear later.

The arrangement of the original 16th century house remains unclear. The eight roof trusses in the main range are of fine quality but appear clean, and the lofty roof height suggests the range may have comprised a first-floor hall or other principal room on the first floor. Fine 18th century joinery now conceals much of the earlier structure.

By the early 17th century, the house appears to have had a main range comprising a three-room plan with a through passage and a two-storey porch. The room on the lower south-west side was heated by a front lateral stack, the hall to the right by another front lateral stack, and an inner room lay beyond. The two rear wings were heated by end stacks and a courtyard service range was probably positioned on the front south-east side.

The late 17th or early 18th century remodelling involved reorienting the house, panelling the ground and first floor principal rooms and bedchambers, and partially dividing the inner room to form a stair hall with an impressive open-well stair.

Exterior: The house presents two storeys, a cellar and an attic. The north-west elevation, which was remodelled in the early 18th century, has a regular three-by-four window front with a C18 modillion cornice. Two wings project to the front right and left of a central range. The door is positioned to the right of centre, featuring a multiple moulded two-centred arch with a datestone of 1653 above. Two early 18th century sashes flank the door to the left, with a sash to the right. The first floor has four 12-pane sashes, three of early 18th century date with thick glazing bars. Two large blocked mullion and transom windows are visible in the side wall of the right-hand wing, extending from ground to first floor.

The south-east elevation displays an asymmetrical four-window front with two storeys, a cellar and an attic. A two-storey porch is positioned left of centre, featuring a depressed chamfered four-centred arch and a two-light mullion window above (the mullion has been removed). The left-hand side is partly obscured by the service wing which extends forward. A large projecting front lateral stack stands to the left, with a late 19th century 12-pane sash on the first floor. A straight joint marks the line of the front lateral hall stack projection. An 18th century door with fanlight is positioned to the right, with tall 18th and 19th century 18-pane sashes featuring 18th century sash boxes on the first floor.

Interior: The house features a wide through passage. The hall retains a circa late 19th century chimneypiece. The floor joists above have been altered, possibly in the 18th century, to resemble intersecting ceiling beams, chamfered and stopped. The inner room was partitioned in the 18th century and a fine early 18th century stair was inserted, featuring an open string and deep moulded rail, ramped and wreathed with turned fluted balusters and a dado rail on the opposite wall, with a coved ceiling above. The room on the lower side of the passage was partly remodelled with 19th century joinery detailing, while the west wing beyond retains a late 17th century bolection-moulded door frame. A blocked granite fireplace in the gable end wall is, according to the owners, of considerable size. The first floor retains much of its circa late 17th and early 18th century bolection-moulded and raised-and-fielded panelling with coved plaster ceilings intact.

Roof structure: The main range has an 11-bay roof with a possibly original closed truss above the lower side of the passage. The circa early 16th century principals are morticed at the apices with curved feet resting on a timber wall plate. The mortices have straight tops and deeply cranked stopped-and-chamfered soffits resembling arch bracing. Two tiers of threaded purlins are chamfered with diagonal stops. The roof on the north-east is circa late 17th century with heavy principals and collars, halved, lap-jointed and pegged. Above the west wing, six circa 17th century trusses are much slighter, with principals halved, lap-jointed and pegged, and collars that are chamfered with a pronounced crank.

Historical context: Lavethan was marked as the residence of Humphrey Kemp by Norden around 1584, as recorded in his Speculi Britanniae Pars: A Topographical and Historical Description of Cornwall (1728, reprinted 1966).