Vicars Stalls

Vicars Stalls

House, probably late 15th century with late 16th century alterations, heavily remodelled and extended circa 1880. The building stands on the north side of East Street in Chulmleigh.

The building is constructed of unrendered stone rubble with a thatch roof, hipped at the left end and gabled to the right. It has a rendered brick stack at the left end, a brick shaft to stone rubble stack at the right end, and a rear lateral brick stack serving the rear range.

The complex plan reflects multiple phases of development. The main range comprises a former open hall house of considerable status, retaining seven raised cruck trusses, all evenly but relatively lightly smoke-blackened. The original extent of the house is unclear, though it may originally have extended further at the lower end and possibly at the upper left end. Probably in the mid to late 16th century the house was substantially remodelled. The exposed ceiling to the former large single room to the right of the entrance hall suggests this end was used as a parlour, with a kitchen positioned at the higher left end.

Around 1880 the house underwent extensive remodelling. The large principal room was partitioned to form a small room to the right of the entrance hall with an axial rear passage to the larger end room. An extension of one room was added in parallel with the main range to the rear, and a grand staircase was built at the rear of the entrance hall. The kitchen was also partitioned to create a small office, originally used as a doctor's dispensary, immediately to the left of the entrance.

The exterior is 2 storeys with a 4 window range. All are 19th century 3 light casements with 3 panes per light. The ground floor has two 19th century transomed mullion windows of 3 lights to the right of a panelled and part-glazed doorway. A late 19th century greenhouse is attached at the right end of the main range within an enclosed garden.

The right-hand room has a fine framed ceiling with heavily modelled beams, only 2 panels and part of a third of which are exposed; the remainder has been concealed by late 19th century remodelling of good quality, which includes a moulded plaster cornice. The added rear range is completely unspoilt, with a good late 19th century decorative plaster cornice and a rich marble chimneypiece. A late 19th century geometric staircase is positioned to the rear of the entrance hall.

The kitchen retains a hollow chamfered cross ceiling beam and brick arch to the fireplace; the original timber lintel was corbelled out. Several 17th century doors survive to the upper storey over the kitchen end.

The roof structure consists of 7 trusses in all, with short curved feet to the principals supported on partially exposed chamfered timber wall plate. The trusses carry 2 tiers of butt purlins and a diagonally threaded ridge purlin, with morticed and tenoned slightly cranked collars; some collars have been removed. The roof has been modified to a hip at the left end, and the lower end truss is set close to the gable end wall with principals having soffits grooved to the apex, as if to take a closed partition.