26 and 27 (Primrose Cottage) and 28 Vicarage Hill

This is a circa 17th century former row of three cottages, now two residences, located on Vicarage Hill in Holbeton. The building is constructed of local rubble stone with roughcast rendering, and has a thatched roof with half-hipped and gabled ends and eyebrow eaves. No. 28 has a brick end stack, while the rear extension to No. 26 has a grey slate roof.

The cottages are rectangular in plan and front the road. They step down in height to accommodate the gradient of the hill slope, with the lower south end set back slightly. The long five-window front features C19/20 two- and three-light casement windows with timber lintels and glazing bars. Three doorways have plank doors with decorative ironwork (at No. 26) and a slate hood over the doorway of No. 28. There are rendered chimney stacks at the north and south gable ends, the latter being partially rendered and partially brick.

The interior was not inspected in 2009.

Based on the First Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1887, the cottages were part of a longer row of buildings, later reduced to the current two residences by the 20th century. They likely housed workers on the Flete House estate, associated with the Hele, Bulteel, and Mildmay families. Nos. 26 and 27 were renamed Brinks Cottage in the late 20th century, and No. 26 was extended to the rear; later, Brinks Cottage’s name was changed to Primrose Cottage.

The building is designated at Grade II for remaining a characterful 17th century row of estate cottages, despite later extensions.