Talewater Farmhouse

Farmhouse. Likely dating from the 16th century, with improvements in the 17th century and some modernization in the 19th century. The walls are plastered cob on stone rubble footings, with stone rubble or cob stacks topped with 19th and 20th century brick, and a thatched roof. The house faces south and is built down a gentle hillslope. Originally a 3-room-and-through-passage plan, the lower end kitchen is at the east end and features a projecting end stack. The hall, originally central, has an axial stack backing onto the passage. The west end contains a parlour with an end stack. A second passage was introduced in the 19th century across the upper end of the former hall. Without an internal inspection, it appears the house likely began in the 16th century as an open hall house, possibly heated by an open hearth fire. Major developments occurred in the later 16th and 17th centuries, with only superficial modernizations since. The house has two floors. The exterior has an irregular 4-window front. The central two first-floor windows are 17th century oak-framed, 3-light windows with chamfered mullions. The remaining windows are 19th and 20th century casements with glazing bars. There are two front doorways, both with 20th century doors. The passage front doorway is on the right and has a 20th century hood. The roof is hipped to the right and half-hipped to the left. Internal inspection was not possible at the time of the survey, but a significant amount of 16th and 17th century carpentry detail is suspected, and an internal survey, including the roof, is recommended before any alterations are undertaken to prevent disturbance of older features.