Kenniford Farmhouse

CLYST ST GEORGE SX 98 NE 2/4 Kenniford Farmhouse - 11.11.52 II

Farmhouse. C17 (probably built by William Osborne, b.1623 d.1705), possibly re- using the footings and some of the ceiling beams of an earlier house, with later alterations. Brick, largely in English bond, on sandstone footings, with a concrete tiled hipped roof over the greater part of the building, and a slate gabled-end roof to the service end. Formerly a 3-room, cross-passage plan house, with a wing containing the main mid to late-C17 stairs to the rear of the hall, and a second set of stairs, now largely C19, to the front of the service end. A service-end front wing retains some early fabric, but is largely C19. The roof ridge line of the service end is much lower than that of the rest of the house which was probably heightened in the C17. Service end heated by external stone end stack (partially dismantled) with bake oven; hall by internal rear lateral brick stack, rear wing chamber by external brick end stack corbelled out at 1st-floor level (the shaft dismantled). Late C19 or C20 internal right-hand end stack. 2 storeys. Front: 4-window range. All mid-C20 large metal casement windows to main range and towing, with 2 French windows to the right of the C17 moulded door surround leading into the cross passage (which has no opposing rear door). Plat band carried around all sides except the right-hand C19 rendered brick end wall. The band is carried around the one 2-light 1st-floor window of the rear wing. All rear casements mid or late C20. Large rear leanto, C20. Interior: ceiling cross beams to all rooms of main range - 3 each to hall and service end chamfered with scroll stops, 2 to inner room boxed - 1 set very high, 1 to the hall supported by moulded upright and corbel. Good main stairs rising through 3 storeys to attic, turned balusters, square section newels, formerly with finials, 1 pendant surviving, pulvinated string, treads and risers intact. Service end stairs are C19, but the 1st storey doorframes leading from them into the upper rooms are C17, with ovolo and fillet moulding, scroll stopped with diamond above. 1 contemporary plank door with strap hinges with fleur-de-lys ends; another with big moulded depressed panels. Roofs: 2 trusses to the wing with long, straight, sawn principals, morticed at apex, pegged tie beams may be C17; service end roof C19; main roof entirely C20.

Listing NGR: SX9890989677