43, Fore Street

This house, located on Fore Street in Chudleigh, likely originated in the early 16th century and has undergone several significant remodellings over the centuries, including alterations in the late 16th century, the early 18th century, and a complete refronting in the 19th century. The construction combines stone, cob, and stud walls, with a colourwashed and plastered exterior, and a mansard slate roof pitched perpendicular to the street. A lateral chimney stack is visible on the left-hand wall.

The building's development is complex. Evidence suggests an initial house from the 16th century existed parallel to Fore Street, situated at a lower level than the present street. A plank and muntin screen, partially at basement and first-floor levels, remains from this early phase. Originally an internal partition, it is now incorporated into the right-hand wall. A substantial remodelling in the later 16th century raised the floor levels, creating a two-room-deep plan. It is unclear when rooms were lost at the right end, and the house was re-roofed at a right angle to the street, an event believed to coincide with the insertion of a grand, late 17th-century staircase. A 19th-century refronting and rear extension completed the building's evolution. The current configuration presents a one-room-wide facade, three rooms deep, with the stair cell centrally located.

Externally, the front features a dentil cornice, a two-story canted bay window with slightly recessed canted windows—12 panes in the center and 8 panes to each side—and a single-story, flat-roofed entrance block, slightly set back on the right, largely dating to the 20th century. The entrance block has a flush panel door, a flat porch canopy, and a rectangular fanlight.

Inside, several notable features remain. The original 16th-century plank and muntin screen is still present within the right-hand wall, with chamfered muntins and run-out stops at the top (lower stops decayed). A post mortised into a chamfered cross beam with step stops abuts the screen on the ground floor. A dogleg staircase, apparently re-used from elsewhere, features vase-shaped balusters, two flights, and a landing. The upper landing balusters have capitals carved as egg and dart, and laurel wreath bases; the handrail may have originally had ball finals. An iron post supporting the ceiling in the rear ground-floor room possibly marks the former rear wall of the original house. A rounded wall in the cellar suggests the location of a former newel stair from the 16th-century phase. A good first-floor iron grate, dating to the early 19th century, is also present, along with decorative detailing. The house's layered history is fascinating and the reused staircase is particularly noteworthy.