Exton House

Exton House, on the west side of Exmouth Road in Exton, comprises two dwellings created from what was formerly a single farmhouse. The building dates from the late 16th century, with significant extensions and alterations made in the 17th century and again in the 19th century. It is constructed of roughcast cob on stone footings with brick repairs, and features gabled-end roofs, mainly thatched, though the outer face of the cross-wing rear roof is slated.

The original plan was a three-room, through-passage type farmhouse with the service end to the right of the passage and a parlour-end cross wing. The rear part of the cross wing appears to be slightly earlier than the front, which contained the principal rooms. A lateral stair turret was built to the cross wing, aligned with the main range. The main range was extended at the service end, probably in the 17th century. A rear service-end wing or barn, documented in the 1976 spot-listing report, has since been demolished. The building stands two storeys throughout.

Heating is provided by three separate stacks: an axial stack at the service end (formerly positioned at the end), a truncated front external lateral stack heating the hall, and an external lateral stack heating the cross wing, all with brick shafts.

The front elevation presents a five-window range with tall 20th-century casement windows. A late 20th-century single-storey extension containing a sunroom and conservatory projects forward. A projection at the right-hand end probably indicates a former stair turret. The cross wing front displays a late 20th-century sash window on the first floor and an 8:12:8 pane hornless sash bay window with slate roof below. The right-hand gable end, facing Exmouth Road, contains a 17th-century three-light chamfered window at ground floor level.

The cross wing side elevation features a rear chamber with a four-light casement window that is simply chamfered externally but features ovolo mouldings internally, with a 20th-century glazed door below. The stair turret has a small chamfered two-light window facing the rear at ground floor and a large three-light window in the gable end of the turret, surrounded by a cyma recta moulding with matching frame and mullions. Later 20th-century fenestration occurs forward of the turret. The rear of the service end extension displays a two-light chamfered window.

The interior contains several notable features. The parlour, occupying the front of the cross wing, has two unstopped chamfered cross beams with plasterwork ceiling panels between them. Each panel comprises a set of single ribbed quatrefoils with varied angle sprays, small cornices along the ceiling beams, and ovolo moulding between two fillets. A 19th-century partition divides the rear plaster panel down the middle, creating a passage behind the parlour. The hall has a chamfered cross beam with hollow step stops and a fireplace with a chamfered wooden lintel and stone jambs featuring a hollow chamfer. The rear window of the hall is visible only from inside; it has three lights with chamfered mullions and surround and stanchions. Some simple early 18th-century panelled doors survive, including a formerly external door with studded rails.

The service end features a lower end passage bressumer with a composite moulded chamfer and run-out stops, and a chamfered lintel to the fireplace with an oven on the left-hand side. The service end extension originally had deeply chamfered cross beams, which have since been replaced with 20th-century carpentry.

The roof structure reflects the building's complex evolution. The roof of the main range has been severely damaged by fire. The cross wing comprises two builds: the trusses above the parlour chamber have morticed apexes and collars, while the rear wing trusses are crossed and halved with trenched and pegged purlins throughout. The hall trusses are chamfered.