Exeter Inn

SY 08 NE NEWTON POPPLEFORD HIGH STREET, AND HARPFORD Newton Poppleford 5/68 Exeter Inn - 11.11.52 GV II

Public house. Late C17, thoroughly modernised in late C19 and again in C19. Plastered cob or stone rubble; stone rubble stacks topped with C19 and C20 brick; thatch roof. L-shaped building with the main block facing onto the road to north. The front main block is now one room (the bar) from end to end but was originally 2 rooms with a central cross passage to the stairs in the rear block. There are end stacks either end of the main block. The 2-room plan rear block projects at right angles behind the left (eastern) room with a disused stack backing onto the main block and an end stack. 2 storeys. Vaguely symmetrical 2-window front of various late C19 and C20 windows. To left is 15-pane (12/3) horned sash under a 16-pane horned sash with shutters. To right is a C20 curving bay window with glazing bars below a 3-light casement with glazing bars. The central doorway contains a late C19 - early C20 studded plank door with a flat hood on shaped brackets. The roof is gable-ended. Interior is largely the result of C19 and C20 modernisations. Little C17 work is exposed. Nevertheless the right end of the main block has a C17 crossbeam; it is double scroll stops. This fireplace this end has been rebuilt in the C20. Several joists at this end are soffit-chamfered with scroll stops but it is not clear whether these are C17 or C20. Elsewhere no C17 carpentry shows. The stairs are C19 and much of the first floor joinery is contemporary. The main block roof however is late C17 and carried on tall, steeply-pitched A-frame trusses with pegged lap- jointed collars. The Exeter Inn forms an attractive group with Wisteria Cottage (q.v.) and Forstmill (q.v.) and all 3 properties once comprised a Chantry House founded in 1331.

Listing NGR: SY0859389734