Nymet St George House

SS 62 SE GEORGE NYMPTON

4/67 Nymet St George House -

II

Former rectory. 1781 (information from owner), extended and remodelled in 1868 by Edward Ashworth of Exeter (D.R.O.) with some minor alterations by the present owner over the last 40 years. Colourwashed rendered stone; tiled roof of 1868 to main range, gabled at ends; 2 axial stacks with brick shafts to main range, axial stack with brick shaft to the kitchen wing. Plan: Overall U plan, 2 parallel ranges, one to the north and one to the south, linked by an east block. C18 features survive in the south range, which has the main entrance in the east end and the principal rooms facing south with a passage along the north side leading to the stair. The east block may also be C18 as there are no service rooms in the south range, if it were the kitchen wing the stack has been dismantled in subsequennt alterations. In 1850 the house was described as "a good thatched residence, in the Elizabethan style", (White's Devon) suggesting that it may have undergone some remodelling in the 1830s or 1840s. In 1868 it was refashioned and extended (information from owner) with a service wing, including a C19 kitchen added to the north forming the present U plan, with a narrow courtyard between the wings. The roof was probably raised at this date, the thatch replaced with tiles, and the exterior Gothicised. The east block was in use partly as a pantry in the 1940s and has subsequently been remodelled to provide a second entrance. Other C20 alterations include refashioning the porch at the east end of the south range and the addition of an open-fronted garden room, re-using classical columns (probably early C19), adjoining the west end of the south range. An interesting feature of the plan is the position of the Rector's study, at the east end of the south range but separated from the other principal rooms by an internal door in the passage. Exterior: 2 storeys. Symmetical 3 bay south front (garden front) with 3 gables to the front with curly bargeboards; cornice at first floor level; slight recess in the centre with pilasters flanking a late C18/early C19 tripartite sash. Left and right sashes probably late C18; 12-pane with margin glazing; 3 first floor late C18/early C19 3 over 6-pane sashes. The east elevation consists of the central courtyard and the east ends of the north and south ranges. Fenestration of mostly early C19 timber sashes with some later sashes and casements. The porch at the end of the south range has been remodelled but preserves a pretty late C18/early C19 roundel. A late C20 half-glazed door in a C19 style has been added to the east block. Interior: The south range preserves some late C18 panelled doors and a stick baluster stair with a ramped mahogany handrail. There is a re-sited C18 chimney-piece in the dining room (west end of south range), flanked by recesses. The C19 kitchen is relatively unaltered with a good slate floor. An attractive, informal house.

Listing NGR: SS6904023387