Barn Owl Inn

SX 86 NE KINGSKERSWELL ALLER ROAD, Aller 3/154 Barn Owl Inn - - II Inn, originally farmhouse. C17 with late C17, C18 and C19/C20 additions, much altered in C20. Rendered rubble and cob walls. Asbestos slate roof, gabled to left and to rear wing, half hipped to right. Rendered brick stack at left hand gable end and axial to left of centre. Rear lateral rendered rubble stack and projecting gable end stack to rear wing, both have brick shafts. Originally 3-room and through passage plan with hall heated by rear lateral stack and lower room (to left) by gable end stack. Extended by 1 room at lower end in late C17, probably at this stage front wall of hall, passage and lower room built out. Probably C18 heated wing added at rear of lower room. C19/C20 outshuts at rear of hall/inner room. The original room layout was much altered in later C20 when the house was converted to an inn : passage was removed and also hall/inner room partition. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 6-window front; original block to right, right hand end of which is recessed. Taller late C17 block to left, roof may have been raised; this has 2-window front of C20 3-light casements with glazing bars, slight projection between the windows. Main section has 2-light C20 casements on first floor, far right is 1 light. 3 & 4 lights on ground floor, left hand ground floor window has C20 reproduction hoodmould above. C20 part glazed door to left of centre. Interior: hall fireplace has ovolo moulded wooden lintel with hollow step stops. Chamfered cross beams with run-out stops. Left-hand room in addition has good quality late C17 2-panel plaster ceiling. Each panel has central oval wreath of bay leaves with stylised flower at the centre. Thin-ribbed panels at each corner. Coved cornice of acanthus leaves. This room was reputedly originally panelled. The interest of this building lies chiefly in the complete good quality late C17 plaster ceiling whose existence is disguised by the considerably altered exterior.

Listing NGR: SX8768868992