West Clyst Farmhouse

Farmhouse. The core of the building dates back to the 15th century, with significant later alterations and additions primarily in the 17th and 19th centuries. It is constructed of cob with a stone plinth, rendered externally, and has gabled-end thatched roofs. Originally a three-room through-passage house, it was modified with the remodelling of a kitchen to the right in the 17th century and the addition of a thatched rear parlour wing in the 17th and 19th centuries. There are two internal end stacks with brick shafts, a large external rubble back lateral stack to the middle chamber which has a moulded cob base beneath an added brick shaft, and two axial stacks to the rear wing, one with a moulded cap. The farmhouse is two storeys high throughout. The front elevation features a long, four-window range. The entrance to the passage is set to the left of centre, sheltered by a rustic, latticed open-work timber porch with a thatched roof. Adjacent to the left is a stair turret with a 2-light timber casement window containing 8 leaded panes to each light, along with some glazing bars. There are two windows to each floor on both the left and right sides of the front; the upper windows are of 2 and 3 lights, all with boarded eyebrow eaves and timber casements dating to the 19th century. The three ground-floor windows to the left have 3 lights, set under heavy lintels and with sills close to the ground; the present kitchen window is also 3-light but smaller. All casements are timber and likely date to the 19th century or later. The rear elevation has a continuous lean-to with three 3-light windows in old frames, with chamfered lintels; one casement has 8 leaded panes to each light and glazing bars. The rear wing (facing the farmyard) has two 3-light casement windows, one 3-light early 19th century sash window (to the first floor), and three 4 and 8-light openings with iron bars and internal shutters. Inside, the right-hand room (the remodelled kitchen) features a large, renewed end fireplace, with a large cupboard space to the right, possibly formerly a smoking chamber, and a similar space to the left, lit by a small window, which may have been the former newel. It contains a beam with a shallow chamfer and no stops. Wide cupboard spaces with late 18th century panelled doors, are situated between the kitchen and the middle chamber, likely occupying the original cross passage. The middle chamber has an inserted framed ceiling of beams with a composite moulded profile, forming six squares, which breaks through into the entrance passage, which now contains the later main stairs – formerly the hall. The roof above this hall is blackened by smoke. Fielded panelled internal shutters are found in this and the left-hand room, a large chamber with no exposed beams. The kitchen roof is sealed. The hall and parlour roof is of four bays, with principals (possibly jointed crucks), morticed and side-pegged at the apex, a diagonal ridge piece, and trenched purlins; it has a right-hand hip cruck. The two principals above the hall are smoke-blackened. The rear wing roof consists of six bays, with all principals morticed and side-pegged and crossed at the apex.