Gretal Cottage The Towan House

SX 99 NE POLTIMORE POLTIMORE

5/158 The Towan House and - Gretal Cottage 30.6.61 - II

House and outbuilding now 2 houses. Mid C17 with later modifications. Cob, stone plinth, rendered; hipped and half hipped wheat reed thatched roof to the Towan House, 2 storeys, and Gretal Cottage, single storeyed. The Towan House probably originally a 3 room, cross-passage plan; Gretal Cottage possibly a former farmbuilding attached to the present Towan House. Internal right-hand end stack and rear external stack, both with brick shafts. Front: The Towan House with scattered fenestration; planked door with moulded surround under C19 slate, gabled, boarded porch supported by shaped struts; large stair-turret bulge to left with single-light window now deeply inset; two 2-light windows to first floor, 1 single-light and one 2-light window to ground floor. All timber casements, C20. Gretal Cottage with planked door under C19 slate-roofed porch supported by timber posts; to the left a 3-light window with 10 leaded panes to each light, and retaining its ring catch, all C18. 2-light C20 casement window to right. Rear of The Towan House with three 2-light windows above, 2 below; one entrance, 3 buttresses. C20 right-hand lean-to extension. Interior: The Towan House : left-hand room with chamfered beam and fireplace with timber lintel, chamfered with scroll stop, stone jambs, and back with remains of oven; lath and plaster screen divides this from the adjoining room (Hall) which has a beam morticed to receive tenons of a screen now destroyed. Staircase insitu. Coat of arms dated 1666 (possibly 1686). Roof: visible only from upper rooms : 3 principals, trenched purlins, collar side pegged and morticed. Raised floor level between Hall and adjoining rooms. One door with fielded panels. Gretal Cottage roof of 2 principals, one reinforced.

Listing NGR: SX9649196934