Marsh Barton Farmhouse

Marsh Barton Farmhouse is a building that originally served as a single farmhouse, likely dating back to the 16th century, though it has undergone significant alterations. It features roughcast cob construction on stone footings, topped with a gabled-end and hipped roof. The layout suggests it was probably a three-room, through-passage house, with the lower end located to the right of the passage and a front parlour wing that is two rooms in length. The farmhouse stands two storeys high and has a front elevation with a three-window range. The first floor has three-light casement windows, while similar windows are found at the hall and service end. The inner face of the parlour wing has two three-light windows on each floor, along with a central doorway that includes a glazed porch. The building features a notable array of six chimney stacks, all rendered, which is its most striking characteristic; this includes three axial stacks, two end stacks, and one lateral stack on the wing. It is unclear which of these stacks are original, as the one backing onto the passage is entirely from the 20th century. Inside, there are some roughly chamfered ceiling beams and a chamfered lintel above the hall fireplace. The wing has a pegged roof from the 18th century. The farmhouse holds significant historical interest as it was the home of the Sokespitch family from the middle of the 12th century until the late 18th century, during which time they reclaimed the surrounding marshland. This history has been documented in W G Hoskins' "Old Devon" (1966, reprinted 1971), pages 121-134.