Agricultural Outbuildings Adjoining To North Of Woodbeer Court

A group of agricultural outbuildings dating to the early 18th century, with minor alterations in the 19th and 20th centuries. These buildings were constructed to accompany a significant refurbishment of Woodbeer Court and formed a courtyard to the rear of the house. An initial phase included a wing containing domestic spaces integrated with the house, and behind that a west wing featuring a cellar or store with a granary above, separated from the house by a carriageway. The north side of the courtyard was originally completed by a stable with a hayloft above, which extends westward to incorporate a cider house, a shippon (now a pighouse), and a small barn. The buildings are constructed of Flemish bond brick, with burnt headers near the farmhouse, on footings of local stone rubble. The roofs are slate and corrugated iron, likely originally thatched. Original doorways and windows are consistent in style, featuring low segmental brick arches. Later alterations are clearly distinguished by the use of hard machine brick. While much of the joinery has been replaced, some may be original to the 18th century. The carriageway through the west wing is defined by a flat-headed arch with a chamfered, scroll-stopped oak lintel on the courtyard side. The original doorway retains a large plank door with a segmental arch-headed wicket. An external stone staircase leads from the courtyard to the stable hayloft. Interior carpentry is plain and sturdy, with roughly-chamfered crossbeams and A-frame trusses with pegged and spiked lap-jointed collars. The cider house contains the remains of a press. The buildings are notable for the early use of local brick in Devon and their complementary relationship with Woodbeer Court. Redfern, Gilpin, and Riley of Exeter produced measured plans and elevations in 1986.