Court Barton

Court Barton is a former farmhouse that dates from the early to mid-19th century, with possibly earlier origins. It is constructed of plastered brick and local stone rubble, featuring stone rubble stacks with early to mid-19th century brick chimney shafts and a slate roof. The house has a U-shaped plan, with the main block facing southwest. It has a double-depth layout, consisting of a front and back room on either side of a central entrance and rear staircase. These principal rooms are heated by end stacks. A two-room kitchen block extends at right angles from the rear of the right end, with the first room having an axial stack that backs onto the main kitchen, which has a gable-end stack. There is also a one-room plan extension at the rear of the left end, which features a gable-end stack and may be a later addition. The house is two storeys high with a basement beneath the front.

The exterior features a symmetrical three-window front that is largely original. The outer bays have 16-pane sash windows flanking a first-floor 12-pane sash above the central doorway, which contains its original panelled door (now with an inserted 20th-century window) behind a flat-roofed porch with a moulded entablature and panelled square-section posts. The eaves are plain, although the 19th-century gutter has cast iron lion's head masks over the joints. The roof has gable ends on the left and runs continuously over the adjoining Thorn Cottage. Towards the rear on the left, there is another 19th-century doorway containing a six-panel door with a pedimented doorcase. Most of the rear windows are 19th-century 16-pane sashes, although there are some 20th-century casements with glazing bars in the kitchen block.

Inside, the house retains original joinery and details, including a geometric open string staircase with slender turned balusters and blocks. The kitchen features a large fireplace, which is partly blocked but still shows some exposed chamfered oak lintel. The roof has not been inspected. Court Barton was likely built alongside the adjoining Thorn Cottage. Feniton is a charming village that boasts a good collection of listed buildings.