The Old Forge

SS 91 NW STOODLEIGH STOODLEIGH

9/177 The Old Forge -

GV II

House incorporating former forge, wheelwright's shop and adjoining linhay. House C18 or earlier in origin, thoroughly remodelled in the C19 when the forge may have been added; late C19 wheelwright's shop; linhay C18 in origin but altered late C19/early C20. Cob and stone rubble with some brick dressings; house and former forge with slate roof, hipped at right end, gabled to left of left return 3 stacks; wheelwright's shop with slate roof, gabled at ends; linhay with tiled roof (formerly thatched) and weatherboarded to the front elevation. Plan: 3 adjoining ranges attractively grouped round a pitched stone courtyard. Complex evolution possibly originating as a farmhouse and buildings subsequently remodelled and extended as cottages and rural industrial workshops and now in use as a house with adjoining outbuilding. The north range consists of a single depth house with the former forge at the right end, end in to the road. At the left end the house returns to the front taking in what was probably once part of the C18 linhay, giving a room at the north range a second room to the right heated by an axial stack with a stair and service rooms to the right and the former forge, heated from a front lateral stack at the right end. The linhay range, adjoining left return of the house and divided from it by an C18 brick wall, has been extended to the front concealing the open-fronted arrangement. The former wheelwright's shop (single-storey) adjoins the former forge at right angles to it giving the third side of the courtyard. Exterior: 2 storey house with a 4 window front elevation with a gabled timber C19 porch to left of centre and a 2-leaf glazed door with glazing bars to the right. Timber casement windows, C19 or C20, with glazing bars. Weaterboarded front to linhay. The right return of the wheelwright's shop,, facing the road, has 2 large small-pane fixed windows with glazing bars and lapped glass. Interior: No outstanding features; the open fireplace to the axial stack has a replaced lintel and C19 bread oven; pretty mid C19 china cupboard with glazed door to left of rear lateral stack, joinery C18 and C19. An attractive group in the centre of the village and an interesting example of a former village industrial complex. Group value with the adjacent Barns Cottage.

Listing NGR: SS9218418941