Upcott Barton

SS 90 NW THORVERTON UPCOTT LANE 5/160 Upcott Barton 5.4.66 GV II Farmhouse. C17 or earlier origins, C18 and C19 alterations. Colourwashed rendered cob on stone rubble footings; thatched roof with plain ridge, half-hipped at right ends, gabled at left end; axial stack to right of centre with brick shaft, projecting rear lateral stack with C19 or C20 brick shaft, left end stone stack with set-offs, 2 bread ovens and brick shaft. Plan: The main range is single depth, 4 rooms wide with a 2-storey porch on the front to left of centre. The most obvious interpretation of the house is a C17 3 room and cross passage arrangement, lower end kitchen to the left, the hall heated by the rear lateral stack, the inner room rebuilt (change in plane on front elevation) and extended by an unheated 1 room plan addition at the right end. This may be correct but there is little in the way of exposed C17 interior detail to confirm it and a chamfered stopped crossbeam in the right end room indicates a likely pre C18 date for the right hand room and thus for the probable remodelling of the inner room, suggesting that the 2 left hand rooms may have pre C17 origins. The 2-storey porch leads into a short passage, a second porch to right of centre faces a straight stair. 2 storeys. Long asymmetrical 7 window front with the eaves thatch eyebrowed over the first floor windows to the right of the gabled 2-storey porch. Second porch, single- storey and gabled, to right of centre, C19 single-storey canted bay window to right of second porch, separate doorway at extreme right into unheated right end room. There are several changes in plane to the front elevation between the 2 porches. Variety of C19 and C20 small pane timber casements except first floor window left which is a probably C18 4-light casement with square leaded panes. A small single- storey thatched block adjoins the main range at the front left corner. This block is said originally to have had a stack and may have been a detached bakehouse or wash- house, the front wall is Cl9 brick. Interior: Surprisingly few visible early features although C17 carpentry and joinery may be concealed behind later wall plaster. Chamfered scroll-stopped cross beam in room with rear lateral stack; chamfered stopped cross beam in right hand room. No access to roofspace at time of survey (1986) but the feet of the principal rafters visible upstairs appear to be straight. A handsome vernacular farmhouse conspicuously and very attractively sited. The farmhouse is part of the Fursdon Estate.

Listing NGR: SS9256004073