4, The Quay

DARTMOUTH

SX874510 THE QUAY 673-1/8/254 (South side) 14/09/49 No.4

GV II*

Former merchant's house built in 1664 for Robert Plumleigh, various minor C18 and C19 alterations and major repairs 1979-1983. Exposed north and west sides are timber-framed; eastern party wall is stone rubble at ground floor and timber-framed above; western party wall is stone rubble, it includes 2 stacks with original Dutch brick star chimneyshafts. Gable-ended slate roof. PLAN: Original plan was 2 rooms deep with central stair, but has been altered. Former rear gallery and back block replaced by No.3 The Quay (not included). EXTERIOR: 3 storeys with attics in the roofspace. Jettied west front to Fairfax Place. End of party wall to right corbels out with the jetties and includes datestone at first-floor level, somewhat battered but the date and the initials of Robert Plumleigh legible. Ground floor has late C19 shop front with disused bottom-panelled glazed door to right. First floor is original decorative carpentry; moulded small-panel framing with ornate oriel (for measured drawings, see sources), flanking Ionic pilasters carved with fruiting vines and, to left, the dragon beam of the second-floor jetty supported on a bracket carved as Samson and the Lion. Second floor also of original small-panel framing but the 2 oriels restored in 1983. Gable with plain bargeboards contains C20 casement and is slate-hung. Long south front (onto The Quay) was originally much plainer than it now appears. It has an irregular 4-window front with 3 gabled dormers, mostly 1983 casements but based loosely on what was there before. The couple of pieces of carved fascia or bargeboard fixed to this front were discovered in the attic in 1983. INTERIOR: Although most original partitions apparently non-structural and mostly removed, there are some good original features, notably original joist arrangements, hooded fireplaces some on unusually-ornate timber corbels and decorated with graffito plaster. Original roof construction remains (see sources). An interesting house in a very important situation. The 1983 repairs were accompanied by an archaeological record. (Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society: Thorp, John RL: 4 The Quay, Dartmouth: a Devon Town-House of 1664: 1983-: P.107-122).

Listing NGR: SX8782451323