Goulds Leary Farmhouse

EAST AND WEST BUCKLAND SX 62 NE

5/60 Goulds Leary Farmhouse - II

Farmhouse. Principally early C17 but extended at left end probably in C18, the lower (right) end partially rebuilt in C19 with further alterations throughout circa 1970. Stone rubble and rendered cob with some brick at right end. Thatch roof, hipped at left end, gable end to right. Axial brick stack backing onto passage and brick shaft to rebuilt stone rubble stack with brick dressings and projecting bread oven at right end. Plan Probably originally a 2 room and cross-passage plan with hall to left heated by axial stack backing onto cross-passage. The cross-passage formerly contained an internal winder staircase to the front just to left of entrance doorway, but this was removed in the C20 alterations and a staircase introduced running up beside the lower wall of the cross-passage by taking in part of the lower end. The gable end wall of the latter was rebuilt in the C19, so the stack may well be an insertion of that date. The hall, until the C20 alterations, was divided at its upper end by a partition creating a small inner room (formerly used as a fowl house) but the even spacing of the ceiling beams and the fact that none show signs of original morticing suggest this partition was itself a later insertion. Beyond the hall, the former stables with loft over have been taken into form part of the dwelling, but they are clearly a later, probably C18 addition to the original core as evidenced by the straight joint to the front wall and the solid wall rising to the apex of the roof between them and the hall. Dairy extension to rear. 2 storeys. 5 window range. Late C19/C20 two and 3-light casements. Lean-to thatch roof to porch. C17 ovolo-moulded inner door surround. Interior Roughly dressed stone jambs to hall fireplace which has cloam bread oven and roughly chamfered lintel with run out stops. Hollow-step stopped, chamfered cross ceiling beams and bressumers. The thick cob partition between cross-passage and lower end, which has scroll-stopped bressumer and ceiling beam, suggests the latter may itself have been rebuilt in the mid to late C17. Double rebated ovolo- moulded fireplace lintel brought from Hele Manor, Barnstaple and reset here in C20. Roof trusses entirely C18 or early C19 with pegged trusses and lapped collars. No sign of smoke-blackening.

Listing NGR: SS6630529605