Higher Edgeworthy

SS 81 Sw CRUWYS MORCHARD EDGEWORTHY HILL 1/86 Higher Edgeworthy - II House. C17 or earlier origins. Whitewashed rendered cob; axial stack, right end stack both with rendered shafts ; thatched roof, hipped at left end, gabled at right end with plain ridge ; slightly lower roofline at right end with slate roof. Plan: The present plan is a single depth arrangement, 4 rooms wide, the 2 outer rooms narrower than the 2 centre rooms which are divided by a central entrance facing a straight stair. The centre left room is heated by an axial stack backing on to the stair, the centre right room is heated by a right end stack. The original plan form is not entirely clear but the centre left room was probably the early C17 hall with an unheated narrow inner room at the left end. The present stair is in the position of a former through or cross passage and the centre right room is the lower end, possibly rebuilt. The narrow room at the right end, under the slate roof is probably an added service room. The house was formerly divided into 2 cottages. C20 lean-to at rear right. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3 window front with an approximately central C20 gabled porch. Additional door at extreme left leads into the former inner room (now used as a store), further door on front at right into the narrow right end room. Various small C19 and C20 timber casements with glazing bars. Interior : Several features of interest said to survive behind later plaster. The boxed-in cross beam in the centre left room is clearly chamfered and probably stopped. C20 grate conceals an earlier fireplace said to have a lintel dated 1603. Parts of an oak C17 plank and muntin screen between the 2 left hand rooms are visible on the left side only, with chamfered muntins with bar stops. The lower end fireplace and ceiling beams are also concealed ; the fireplace formerly had a massive bread oven which projected into the right hand room. First floor and roofspace not inspected but the layers of thatch suggest that early roof timbers may survive and the possibility of a medieval roof should not be discounted. An interesting vernacular house of at least C17 origins and likely to have C17 features of interest concealed at present.

Listing NGR: SS8494613682