Eastchurch Farmhouse And Adjoining Cottage

SX 79 NW 5/102

CREDITON HAMLETS EAST CHURCH LANE Eastchurch Farmhouse and adjoining cottage (formerly listed as Eastchurch)

II*

Farmhouse and cottage, formerly farmhouse. Late C15-early C16 with major C16, C17 and C18 improvements; C20 subdivision. Plastered cob on rubble footings; granite stacks, 2 topped with C20 blockwork; C20 slate roof (formerly thatch). L-shaped building. Main block facing west has 3-room-and-through-passage plan with inner room at north end (left of front) and secondary parlour block behind inner room. Service end (now cottage) extended to 2 rooms in C18. Hall stack backing onto passage, axial stack in service end (former gable end) and gable-end stack to rear block. Full height cob crosswall on lower side of passage. Now 2 storeys throughout. 7-window front, mostly C19 and C20 wooden and iron casements of various sizes and irregular disposition; most have glazing bars. Doors to house and cottage behind C20 slate-roofed porches and 2 first floor windows between have leaded panes. Tiny single light window, on first floor to left of main door has C17 oak frame. Roof is gable-ended to left, hipped to right. C16 hall chimney shaft of granite ashlar with moulded coping. C20 casements to rear block. Good interior. Original roof survives over hall, inner room and passage carried on 3 jointed cruck trusses (face-pegged with slip-tenon jointing) with cambered collars. It is smoke-blackened from open heath fire. Oak plank-and-muntin screen at upper end of hall (rear side exposed) with chamber over small inner room oversailing into Hall on deep internal jetty. Inserted C16 granite ashlar fireplace with oak lintel and chamfered surround at lower end of hall. Hall floored in late C16-early C17 using crossbeams chamfered with step stops. At same time newel stair with solid oak treads built to left of fireplace; its oak doorframe is ovolo moulded with stepped stops and first floor doorways off the landing are chamfered with step stops and one includes contemporary plank door with strap hinges. In early C17 the upper end was remodelled with addition of 2-storey parlour wing. Large oak winder stair inserted to rear of inner room, next to rear block. Entry from hall through an ovolo moulded door frame with urn stops. Contemporary door frames to inner room and parlour are chamfered with scroll stops. Rear block has chamfered cross beams with step stops and matching C19 replacement joists. Granite fireplace with oak lintel. Roof inaccessible. Some late C17- early C18 joinery; 2 cupboard doors in hall, a fielded panel on butterfly hinges in back wall and scratch moulded 2 panel door on H hinges in front wall; and doors either side of passage have solid oak bead-moulded surrounds. Service end (cottage) shows mostly C20 fittings but (presumably reused) C16 beam in end room. Good example of a multi-phase Devon farmhouse. Probably home of Walter Byestecherch in 1330 (Place Names of Devon).

Listing NGR: SX7376595371