Sletchcott

KINGS NYMPTON SS 62 SE 1/133 Sletchcott 20.2.67 - II Farmhouse, now holiday home. Probably early C16, remodelled in late C16 or early C17, extended in mid to late C17 and altered at lower end probably in C18. Painted roughcast rendered stone rubble and cob. Thatch roof with gable ends. Axial stone rubble stack and brick shaft to stone rubble stack at left end. Plan: 5 rooms in line, with direct entry into the second room from the left, the 2 larger left-hand rooms being heated, with 3 smaller rooms to right, lower end. Unusual multiphase development. The early core of the building is confined to the second room from the right, which consists of a former open hall. There is no access to the roofspace but the impressive raised cruck truss and definite evidence of a jetty beam leaves no doubt that the hall roof timbers are smoke-blackened. However, the jetty beam is directly below the hall truss which is closed above first floor level; both are virtually central suggesting the hall may have been partially floored at the lower end from the outset. There is a winder staircase in the rear right-hand corner. The stack, unusually at the upper end of the hall was probably inserted and the remainder of the hall ceiled in the early C17. There are massive cob partitions at each end of the hall, and there is no evidence of a cross-passage - the unusual possibility exists therefore that Sletchcott was originally a single room direct entry open-hall house. The inner room end is certainly an addition of the mid to late C17. The lower end has been altered in the late C20 but probably consisted of a dairy and salting house, creating 2 narrow rooms, with the third room at the right end being a later addition and originally used as a lofted cider-house All three rooms are unheated. Exterior: 2 storeys. 5 window range. Principally C20 fenestration, 2-light casements, 6 panes per light, except on each floor at left end which are 3 light casements. Large C20 hall window. Hipped thatched porch and 2 further doors to lower end to right. Interior: inner room has ovolo moulded fireplace lintel and heavy square-section axial joists. Hall has virtually central cross ceiling jetty beam with deep chamfers and hollow step stops. Chamfered bressumer at lower end. At the upper end of the hall, the higher ceiling level indicates a later inserted floor, with 2 axial beams and half bressumers to front and rear. The feet of the studs of the closed truss partition above the jetty beam are partially visible. The single raised cruck truss has a visible morticed and tenoned cambered collar and probably 2 tiers of threaded purlins. The purlins over the inner room are entirely carried on the hall, inner room and gable end walls. The lower end has the feet of a single truss with rough straight principals visible, clearly a much later roof structure. Some C19 plank doors survive.

Listing NGR: SS6798321163