11, Union Road

This is a circa 1730 house on Union Road, Crediton, now with shops on the ground floor. It is a significant example of an early 18th-century town house, demonstrating rare survival in Crediton, likely preceding the 1743 fire. The facade is painted Flemish bond brick with a tarred slate roof and rear brick stacks. The original plan comprised a single-depth main block, three rooms wide, with a stair hall behind. A later C18 or early C19 lean-to extension to the rear right adds a kitchen to the first floor.

The front has a three-bay symmetrical design. The timber doorcase features fluted Doric pilasters, and a flat porch canopy on moulded brackets sits awkwardly on the capitals. The original six-panel door has a decorative bead-moulded fanlight with spoke glazing bars. A C19 16-pane sash window is on the ground floor right, the lower sash replaced with plate glass. A late C19 timber shop front is on the left, featuring panelled pilasters with shaped gabled brackets, a moulded cornice, a recessed half-glazed door with flush panels and overlight, and plate glass windows. The first floor has three original C18 double-hung boxed sashes with thick glazing bars, some retaining original glass and individual opening panes; the centre window is 12-pane, and the outer windows are 16-pane.

The interior is largely complete. The hall has plain panelling, original skirting, panelled doors, and a moulded cornice. The dining room also retains panelling and shutters. The parlour, now a barber's shop, is particularly notable as it is fully panelled with fielded and moulded panels, originally oak. The original timber chimney-piece, with a later mantel, is flanked by fluted Doric pilasters, an entablature, a triglyph frieze with guttae, and a delicate dentil frieze. Its design bears a close resemblance to that at Pownes House on the High Street, suggesting the same designer. The original staircase has an open string, turned balusters, square newel posts, an engaged balustrade, and a flat-topped moulded handrail, rising to a half landing and the attic. First floor rooms are plainer, with a small central closet that has been enlarged. A C19 white marble chimney-piece is in the second floor room on the left. The basement kitchen and cellar are said to be largely unaltered. The roof structure consists of pegged A-frames with lapped collars, with one purlin cut to accommodate an attic window.