Culmbridge Manor

Culmbridge Manor is a farmhouse, likely dating from the mid-17th century, with extensions added in 1678. It is constructed of roughcast rubble flint with some cob, and has a gable-end slate roof. The plan's layout is somewhat complex, featuring two through passages. The passage on the extreme left leads to a small heated room, possibly a truncated service area, with the original hall positioned to the right. The hall has an axial stack backing onto the passage, and the screen originally separating the hall and the inner room now divides the hall from the second passage. To the right of this is a large room warmed by an end stack, above which is a chamber with dated plasterwork from 1678, suggesting a late 17th-century rebuilding of the inner room. A wing was added to the rear of the hall and originally served as a dairy. The house has brick shafts within its stacks.

The exterior presents an irregular five-window front. All windows are 20th century replacements, alongside two half-dormers. A conservatory occupies much of the front facade. The door to the left-hand passage is studded. 20th-century extensions are located to the rear.

Inside, the hall is accessed from the left-hand passage via a door with nine-panel rails and fleur-de-lis strap hinges, likely dating from the 17th century. A fireplace has a re-used lintel and original Beer stone jambs. A winder stair was apparently once located in the recess to the left of the fireplace. A chamfered cross ceiling beam is present with a step stop and two bars. A chamfered plank and muntin screen separates the hall; a noteworthy survival is an in-situ 17th-century bench facing the hall fireplace, with turned legs. Although the bench seat’s age is considerable, it may not be original. Another room has a deeply chamfered axial ceiling beam, which is unstopped. A fireplace in this room has Salcombe Regis stone jambs with scroll stops and a continuous chamfer along the timber lintel. The higher-end chamber features a central, moulded single-rib plaster roundel with a husked roundel containing a central rosette. Three plaster wall panels display a CR monogram and crown, alongside a rose or thistle. A strapwork panel is dated 1678 and bears the initials HH. Another chamber has plaster cornices with a cyma reversa moulding. The roof structure consists of straight principals.