14 and 16 Fore Street

Former cross-passage house with an open hall, of probable C16 date. East elevation re-fronted in the early to mid-C19 to face Fore Street. C17 to C21 alterations.

MATERIALS: built of rendered cob, stone, and brick. The roofs are covered in slate tiles.

PLAN: an altered plan that retains evidence for an open-hall house, orientated on a west to east axis. The central and east bay were raised to form three storeys in the early to mid-C19 when the building was re-orientated to face Fore Street. On the left (south) of the building is the entrance to the side passage with a single-bay addition above. Internally, the ground-floor shop unit has been opened up to number 12 Fore Street (Grade II).

EXTERIOR: the principal (east) elevation to Fore Street is of three storeys. There is a mid-to late C19 ground-floor shop front, a central, canted-bay window to the first floor, and a pair of one-over-one horned sash windows with plain architrave to the second floor. The upper storeys are framed by panelled pilasters beneath a moulded eaves cornice and parapet wall that conceals a hipped roof. The shop front has a central entrance beneath a semi-circular fanlight and is flanked by plate-glass display windows divided by a vertical iron strut. There are panelled stall risers beneath. Panelled pilasters with corbels support large brackets to either side of the fascia and cornice. Matching narrower pilasters and corbels frame the entrance. The fascia and cornice continues to the bay to the left which is set back, with early-C21 timber gates to the passage beneath. To the first floor is a six-over-six sash window beneath a pitched roof.

To the side (south elevation) is a side entrance beneath a triangular canopy with a modillion eaves cornice, supported on octagonal posts. To the first floor are two and three-light casement windows, including a three-light stone mullion window towards the west end of possible C17 date. The upper storeys of the rear elevation are hung with slate tiles.

INTERIOR: to the ground floor of the east end are five chamfered ceiling beams, including two with ogee mouldings, and the remains of a fireplace with ogee-moulded jambs. There is evidence for a winder staircase in the north wall which has been repaired in the C19 with new treads. To the west end are the remains of two jointed-cruck roof trusses; that to the west is a full cruck and more complete, with diagonally-jointed blades. Mortices in the cruck blade may perhaps indicate a simple decoration of facetted pegs (J L Thorp, Devon Crucks: A Particular Tradition in Alcock et al, 2019). There are trenches in the backs of the cruck blades for two rows of through purlins. The first and second floors of the central and east bay retain early- to mid-C19 fixtures and fittings including joinery, plasterwork and fireplaces.