8 And 9, Town Hall Place

BOVEY TRACEY TOWN HALL PLACE (north side), SX 8178 Bovey Tracey

11/94 - Nos 8 and 9

GV II

Pair of houses and shop, formerly a single large house; it may originally have extended further east. Late medieval. Ground storey of No. 8 has exposed stone, granite and slatestone rubble to right, granite ashlar to left; the ashlar section has a projecting plinth with hollow-moulded top. The rest of front is cement- rendered, but upper storey of No. 8 is said to be of cob underneath, while upper storey of No. 9 is said to have been the same before rebuilding in C20. Asbestos- slated roof. Rendered chimneystacks on right-hand gable and on rear wall of No. 9. Plan consists only of front range, one room deep; interior has been much altered, but evidence of roof-structure suggests there was an open hall at the east end, corresponding to No. 8. 2 storeys. 4-window front. Single C20 door, off-centre to left, serves both houses. To left of it a late C19 shop front. To right of door a C20 casement, and to right of that again a blocked window, just detectable in the stonework. In second storey No. 8 has 2 C20 casements, while No. 9 has 2 late C19 sashes, each of 2 panes, with horns. Interior: No. 8 has a heavy chamfered upper-floor, beam in ground storey, while No. 9 has in rear wall of ground-storey room a fairly large open fireplace with plain stone jambs and C20 lintel, replacing the original wooden beam. Roof-structure common to both houses is late medieval and almost complete, a few common rafters having been cut back. The timbers are darkened, probably as a result of smoke- blackening from a former open hearth. A new roof has been built over the old structure. The early trusses, the feet of which are not visible, have cranked collars, threaded purlins and ridge, and triangular strengthening-pieces in the apex. The truss over the centre of No. 8 was formerly arched-braced and there is a closed truss over the division between the 2 houses.

Listing NGR: SX8173078596