Rectory Cottage

DUNCHIDEOCK BIDDYPARK LANE SX 88 NE

3/20 Rectory Cottage - 11.1l.52 GV II

Rectory, now divided into 2 cottages. Probably early C15 (Register of Bishop Stafford) with substantial alterations of the 1960s. Dressed Heavitree brecchia and volcanic trap; slate roof, gabled at ends; end stacks, front lateral stack (shaft dismantled). Although the interior was modernized in the 1960s, ground plans published in 1957 show a 3 room and through passage arrangement, the heated lower end to the right, the hall heated by the front lateral stack with a heated inner room to the left with a front stair projection containing a winder stair. Front left and right garderobe projections. The high status of the medieval building is still evident in the architectural detail. A terrier of 1679 refers to a 2-storey detached cob kitchen which had apparently disappeared by 1728. 2 storeys. Irregular 4 window front with narrow, shallow gardrobe projections on the extreme left and right; arched moulded doorway to former passage to right of centre with stone voussoirs; front lateral stack to left of doorway with adjoining corbelled flue for first floor fireplace (shaft dismantled). To the left of the stack a modern doorway has been inserted, partly blocking the remains of the stone medieval hall window, which had 2 cinquefoil-headed lights in a square frame. To the left of the window the remains of the inner room stair turret survives as a single-storey projection. To the right of the passage doorway an original 1-light stone window in a moulded frame may be a stair window to a former lower end stair. A C20 copy of this window has been inserted to the left of the passage doorway. 4 C20 2-light first floor casements. The rear elevation has C20 fenestration but the blocked arches of 3 original ground floor windows survive. On the rear wall of the hall a blocked opening with a high set arch with voussoirs may be the remains of the rear hall window. 1-light, 2-centred first floor windows on right and left returns. Interior: thoroughly modernized with new partitions and a new roof structure. The arched moulded garderobe doorways survive, the left hand garderobe doorway rebated with hinges. The inner room fireplace has a C20 grate but a cranked relieving arch survives above an old moulded stone lintel and jambs. The 1957 description details moulded cross beams and an arched brace roof.

Pantin, W.A., "Medieval Priest's Houses", Medieval Archaeology, 1 (1957) pp 126-127.

Listing NGR: SX8766487630