Ellishayes Farmhouse

Ellishayes Farmhouse is a farmhouse dating from approximately the early 17th century, though it has undergone substantial alterations in the late 20th century. The building is constructed of stone rubble with a slate roof, gabled at the ends, and features two axial stacks, a left end stack, and a rear lateral stack.

The plan follows an overall U shape with a single depth main range, four rooms wide, and an approximately central two-storey porch leading into the cross passage. The layout demonstrates sophisticated planning for its period. To the left of the passage is a heated room with a stack backing onto the passage, accompanied by two service rooms at the left end (the left end stack is probably a secondary addition). The right hand end of the range comprises a small heated room and an exceptionally large high quality parlour, lit by a large transomed window in the right end wall. The rear right wing is a converted agricultural building, while the rear left wing may originally have been a service wing. Extensive 20th century alterations include some re-partitioning at the left end and a replacement stair rising against the rear right wall with access from the cross passage.

The exterior presents two storeys to the front, rising to three storeys at the right end where the building is built across a sloping site. The front is impressive and almost symmetrical, with four regularly spaced windows and a central two-storey gabled porch. The porch features a coped gable with a finial and a moulded Tudor arched doorframe with carved spandrels; the jambs and lintel carry shallow carving. A fine timber inner door, panelled with studs, survives within a good doorframe. A datestone over the outer doorway, reportedly dating to the 1620s, is now illegible. The windows are a fine set of 17th century ovolo-moulded mullioned windows: the porch has a 3-light window, while others are 4-light; the two ground floor windows to the right of the porch feature hoodmoulds. The right return of the main range includes an extra room below ground floor level with a blocked 3-light mullioned window. This elevation displays a fine 6-light transomed ground floor window with a king mullion and hoodmould, and a 4-light mullioned first floor window above.

The interior retains several interesting features despite 20th century alterations. The ground floor right hand room contains a good moulded ashlar Beerstone chimney-piece with splayed jambs to the lateral stack. The remains of a plaster frieze depicting winged horses survives around the right end window, and an ornamental plaster ceiling decorates the window recess. This room likely once had one of the "fine plaster ceilings" recorded before 1950. The first floor room above features a good stone fireplace, remains of decorated plasterwork including shields on the right end wall, and a 17th century ovolo-moulded stopped timber doorframe. The left side partition of the cross passage has a timber chamfered doorframe with a Tudor arch. The room to the left has been re-partitioned but retains exposed ceiling beams and a fine plank and muntin screen with ovolo-moulded muntins to the rear, along with another similar screen to the left including a good doorframe and door now leading into a stair cell to the rear left. The front left room has a blocked 17th century doorframe on its rear wall; it was originally only accessible from the room behind it. The axial stack has been altered but may retain its original lintel and jambs. The roof is a 20th century replacement.

According to Polwhele's History of Devonshire (first edition 1793), Ellishayes was "sold ... to Hugh Crossing, alderman of Exeter, whose only son Francis built there a good house, called Ellis's; fit for a free heart to entertain his friends".