North Waterhayne Farmhouse

North Waterhayne Farmhouse is a grade II* listed farmhouse at Yarcombe. It dates from the early 16th century, with major improvements made in the later 16th and 17th centuries, a mid-to-late 19th century extension, and modernisation around 1970.

The house is built of roughcast cob on local stone rubble footings, with stone rubble chimneys topped with 20th-century brick. The roof is covered with concrete tiles, though it was formerly thatched. The building is 2 storeys and follows an L-plan, with the main block facing south-south-west and built down a gentle hillslope.

The main block originally had a 3-room-and-through-passage plan from the early 16th century. The house was originally open to the roof from end to end, divided by low partitions and heated by an open hearth fire. Around the mid-16th century, a small inner room was floored over with ladder access from the open hall. The hall fireplace was inserted probably in the mid-to-late 16th century, and the passage and service end room were floored over. The hall was floored over in the early or mid-17th century, probably when the kitchen block was built.

The main block contains, from west to east uphill to downhill: a parlour with a gable-end stack (a mid-to-late 19th century extension); a former small unheated inner room (formerly buttery or cellar) between the parlour and hall, now removed to enlarge the hall; the hall with an axial stack backing onto the passage; and an unheated service room (formerly pantry and dairy). A single-room kitchen block projects at right angles to the rear of the service end, with its own gable-end stack. The original roof is intact except for the hip structure over the service end. It is carried on side-pegged jointed crucks, and the truss cut through by the hall chimneys has chamfered arch-bracing. All timberwork is smoke-blackened from the original open hearth fire.

The exterior has an irregular 4-window front with mostly 20th-century iron-framed casements with glazing bars, although the first floor right window is timber with rectangular panes of leaded glass (matched by similar windows to the rear). The passage front doorway is towards the right end and contains a 20th-century part-glazed plank door behind a contemporary porch. The roof is gable-ended to the left, steps down over the passage, and is hipped to the right.

The interior retains significant historic features. The service end has a sloped flag floor designed for drainage when washed down. The hall fireplace is blocked but its large size remains apparent. The ceiling is a notable intersecting beam ceiling with 6 panels and richly-moulded beams. The upper end screen to the former inner room has been removed. The first floor partition between hall and inner room chambers is oak-framed with a small arch-headed doorway for ladder access from the open hall. Alongside the chimneybreast is a 17th-century oak doorframe with chamfered surround from the hall chamber to the passage chamber. In the kitchen, the fireplace is blocked and its large size is apparent. A newel stair once rose alongside to the left. The kitchen roof is carried on a 2-bay side-pegged jointed cruck truss. The first floor contains a garderobe complete with its oak seat and lid in the outer front corner of the kitchen.

A house on this site was probably the home of John Atte Watere in 1333.