Feoffee Cottage

IDEFORD FORE STREET, Ideford SX 87 NE 4/92 Feoffee Cottage -

GV II

House, formerly subdivided into 3 cottages. Circa early C16 origins, remodelled in the early/mid C17, some alterations of the C19. Colourwashed rendered cob and stone; asbestos slate roof, gabled at ends; left end and axial stack of local red sandstone. The original plan was a 5-bay open hall house of jointed cruck construction. The hall was floored in the circa early/mid C17. There appears to have been some alteration of the internal partitions which makes the C17 plan difficult to decipher, but there is evidence that the axial hall stack originally backed on to a cross passage to right of centre. The passage no longer exists but surviving joists suggest its position and if this is correct the lower end would have been a narrow unheated service room. There is a putative inner room to the left of the hall. In the C19 a stair was inserted against the rear wall of the hall and the lower end partition of the passage may have disappeared at the same time. The axial stack now has fireplaces back to back but it is likely that the fireplace heating the right hand room has been inserted into the original hall stack at a later date. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4 window front with 2 plank and cover strip front doors with strap hinges sharing a common tiled pent roof. The doorways date from the period when the building was subdivided into cottages, 1 of the doors gives direct access into the C17 hall. The C17 doorway was probably to the right of the present doorways. 2 and 3-light C20 casements with high transoms, first floor window right is a 2-light C20 casement, 3 panes per light, ground floor window right is a 1-light C20 fixed window. On the left return there is a C17 3-light first floor timber mullioned window with chamfered mullions (1 mullion replaced). Interior: 4 smoke-blackened side-pegged jointed cruck trusses with collars mortised into the principals which are mortised at the apex and 2 tiers of threaded purlins, diagonally-set ridge. A C20 roof has been added over the medieval roof and some of the smoke-blackened rafters have been cut off at the top. Details on the ground floor indicate the high quality of the C17 flooring over, the cross beams of the hall and lower end rooms are chamfered with step stops and the joists (where exposed) all also chamfered and stopped. The hall fireplace has a low cambered timber lintel. The exposed joists in the inner room are plainer, the inner room has a rebuilt fireplace with a chamfered stopped lintel. The first floor rooms have good 3 plank doors with strap hinges; they are either C17 or good C19 antiquarian. An evolved house with a late medieval roof and high quality interior detail.

Listing NGR: SX8923277325