Towsington Barton

EXMINSTER SX 98 NW

4/31 Towsington Barton

• II

Farmhouse. Probably a late C17 remodelling of an earlier house. Whitewashed rendered cob and Heavitree brecchia; right end stack cob with a brick shaft, left end stack brecchia with brick shaft; slate roof (formerly thatched), gabled at ends. U plan, the main range double depth 2 rooms wide with a passage to left of centre with heated rooms on either side, narrow rear service rooms behind the principal rooms and rear left and right outshuts under catside roofs. Variations in the materials of construction indicate an evolved house, although the present plan is a nice example of a circa late C17 arrangement with a large hall/kitchen to the right of the passage at the front, a smaller parlour to the left, narrow service rooms to the rear with a corridor above on the first floor and further service rooms in the rear left and right outshuts. A projection in the front right corner of the house probably marks the position of the late C17 winder stair. A straight stair leading off the passage to the rear of the parlour may have been the late C17 service stair. A second straight stair to the rear of the hall/kitchen is probably an early C19 insertion. C20 flat-roofed single-storey infill between the outshuts. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window front with a gabled porch to left of centre and a shallow projection at the right end. C20 small-pane 3-light casements to left and right of the porch; first floor outer windows 3-light casements, 6 panes per light, first floor window above porch, similar 2-light casement. A small 2-light timber mullioned window on the right return has been moved from the rear left outshut but replaces a similar window found in situ. Interior: The hall/kitchen to the right of the passage has a large rough-hewn cross beam, a large open fireplace with 1 Heavitree brecchia ashlar jamb and a replaced timber lintel. The arches of 2 bread ovens survive. The parlour to the left, has a similar cross beam, a smaller Heavitree brecchia ashlar fireplace with a timber lintel; blocked recesses to either side may have been windows. The service room to the rear of the parlour is fitted up as an early C19 larder with a tiled floor and slate-topped benches. C19 stair to rear of hall/kitchen with stick balusters and turned newels. Fragments of a moulded plaster cornice survive in first floor room left. Roofspace not inspected but an early roof survives below the C20 roof, the principal rafters appear to be straight and are said to be roughly carpentered. Towsington Barton is a good example of a type of plan transitional between the single-depth and fully double depth house.

Listing NGR: SX9400487236