The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory is a mid-19th century house, formerly the vicarage, with a late-19th century extension. It is constructed of local stone and flint rubble with Hamstone ashlar quoins and detailing, featuring stone rubble stacks; some retain original Hamstone ashlar divided chimneystacks, while most have been rebuilt in brick. The roof is slate. The house is built on a double-depth plan, facing the garden to the south-east, and consists of three rooms, with the outer rooms designed as crosswings, each heated by an end stack that projects from the facade, except for one. The center rooms have an axial stack. The main entrance is located between the front and back rooms on the south-west side, with the staircase on the opposite side. A late-19th century, two-room plan service wing is attached to the rear of the right end, alongside a service courtyard forming an angle with the back of the main house. The house is two storeys high with attics. It is designed in a Tudor Gothic style. The front facade is symmetrical, with a 1:1:1 window arrangement. Each of the outer bays projects slightly and is gabled, with shaped kneelers and coping. These bays contain a three-light stone mullion-and-transom window on the ground floor, featuring Tudor arch-headed lights and a hoodmould; a similar two-light window on the second floor, also with a hoodmould; and an attic lancet window. The central bay has a similar two-light window on each floor, the ground floor window having a transom and a hoodmould. The south-west side has a slightly projecting gabled central bay, surmounted by chimneyshafts. It features a Hamstone Tudor arch doorway with a moulded surround and a hoodmould with lozenge label stops, containing its original panelled doors. The north-east side is less regular, but the windows maintain the same style. A tall three-light window is also present. The service block extension has simpler stone mullioned windows featuring diamond panes of leaded glass, contrasting with the rectangular panes of leaded glass in the original windows. The interior was not inspected during the survey but is suspected to contain much of the original joinery and detailing based on the largely unaltered exterior. The Old Rectory contributes to a group of high-quality 19th century buildings, forming the village center of Upottery, most of which were built at the expense of Lord Sidmouth.