12, High Street

1. 5180 HIGH STREET (South Side) No 12 SX 8060 SW 1/50 25.3.69.

II GV

1. Early C19 refronting of earlier C17 merchant's house of "deux corps de batiments" type; the separate kitchen block and gallery have been demolished, but traces remain of the latter in the west party wall. In 1552 the tenement of the church. Circa 1805-77, the residence of the Mitchell family. Doctor Richard Mitchell was a public orator at Oxford and Head of Magdalen Hall. The South Devon Library was also housed here. In 1810 part of the premises was the Seven Stars Inn. 3 storeys. 4 windows; centre-windows paired. Welsh slate roof. Plastered, timber-framed front. Masonry party walls. Moulded wooden eaves band. Architraved sash windows with glazing bars. Wooden double shopfront with pilasters carrying entablature with dentil cornice; shop window and doorway altered. Recessed side entrance with semi-elliptical arched doorway with radial fanlight and raised and fielded panelling to reveals and door. Rear facade with hipped slate roof, Devonian limestone rubble front and early C19 2 light sash windows with timber lintols. Interior with good earlier C17 panelled wall to rear ground floor room with frieze decorated with strapwork and anthemion motifs. Later C18 staircase with open well, closed strings, turned balusters and square newels. 1st floor room with panelled dado. (M Laithwaite).

Listing NGR: SX8022560427