Rock Hill House

CHULMLEIGH THE SQUARE, Chulmleigh SS 6814/8914 7/107 Rock Hill House GV II House, now divided into 2 occupations and at one time used as an academy school. Early C19, extended to rear and left end in early C20 and again at rear in 1980. Rendered stone rubble, early C20 extensions of unrendered brick. Asbestos slate roof with gable end rendered stacks, that to right end with toothed course around the capping. Plan: Single large room to right of entrance hall, 2 smaller rooms to left, the middle room unheated. Staircase runs up rear of right-hand room, modified in early C20 when a 2-storey brick wing of 1 room plan was added to rear right end. At the same time, a 2 storey brick extension also of 1 room plan was added at left end and a rear conservatory/connecting corridor to the rear of the main range. In 1980 the rear wing was extended by the addition of a 2-storey range. The house is divided into 2 occupations, the left-hand wall of the entrance passage forming the dividing partition. Exterior: 2 storeys. 4-window range, not quite symmetrical. All early C20 4 paned sashes. Canted bay window to ground floor right end. Shallow Doric porch with entablature, panelled reveals to the doorcase and door with 2 panelled base, the upper half glazed with margin glazing bars. Rusticated quoins. Originally a low parapet swept up at the centre concealed the raking front part of the roof. Interior: Right-hand room has 2 narrow chamfered cross ceiling beams and central plaster ceiling rose. Fireplace rebuilt in C20. Segmental arched cupboards with reeded pilastered surrounds to niches each side of alcove to rear wall. Staircase reduced in width in early C20. Joinery intact to rear wing. Rear conservatory has early C20 stained glass depicting naturalistic scenes. Early C19 roof structure with 4 trusses with pegged lapped collars. Originally the rear courtyard was surrounded with buildings servicing the academy school, including a small chapel, none of which survive. North Walk House (q.v.) is said to have housed dormitories for the school.

Listing NGR: SS6870214192