Church House With Former Forge

WOODLEIGH VILLAGE CENTRE SX 74 NW 5/128 Church House with former forge GV II Former church house, later Red Lion inn, now house. Possibly C15 or C16 origins, but mainly C17 with C19 and C20 modifications. Slatestone rubble, slate roof. Lobby entrance, external stair turret immediately right of entry, on street front; back of building set against churchyard. Two storeys; left of door a 3-light glazing bar casement at each level, and large section of plain wall, big gable stack. C20 glazed door under pent roof, 2-light glazing bar casement at eaves of stair turret and to right a 2-light over 3-light, all to wood lintels. External stack in right gable, raised in brick; to its right a 3-light horizontal bar casement over C20 glazed door. At back a small square light, low left, 2-light low centre, and 3-light at eaves, left. Interior: 4 heavy transverse chamfered beams to bar stops; room to left has remains of very large peaked bressummer beam in right corner, possibly moved from original fire position; early, very think plank doors. Stone spiral stair, now with tiled treads. C18 collar roof. The former forge, attached left has pair wide plank doors, and a broad shuttered opening; built later than the main frontage, it is a historical survival and important visually to he village centre. The building resembles other church houses in the country (see Copeland; Church Houses in Devon, in Devon Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art; 1960).

Listing NGR: SX7383248829