The Old House

CHUDLEIGH FORE STREET, (east side), Chudleigh SX 8679 6/53 The Old House 23.8.55

GV II

House, formerly Pynsent's School, founded 1668 (date plaque). C19/early C20 rear left addition, late C20 internal alterations. Whitewashed rendered stone; slate roof, gabled at ends; end stacks and rear lateral stack to main range, end stack to rear wing. The main range is single depth, 3 rooms wide. A rear door opposed to the porch suggests that there was originally a through passage arrangement; to the left of the porch a very large room with no sign of an original stack (the left end stack appears to be a modern addition). It has been suggested that this was originally the school room and was open to the roof (1952 List Description). To the right of the porch there are 2 rooms, 1 heated by the rear lateral stack, 1 heated by the right end stack. A rear wing, at right angles to the lateral stack is 1 heated room on plan and could be a later C17 kitchen, a parallel unheated wing may have been service rooms. A further rear wing, at right angles to the left end of the main range is of 2 periods; the end of the wing is late C19/early C20 brick. The wing is in use as flats. Late C20 single-storey addition to the rear right of the main range. 2-storeys. Asymmetrical 3+1+3 window front with a central 2-storey porch carried on granite columns with square capitals and bases. Late C17 plank and cover strip door with strap hinges in a chamfered doorway with jewelled scroll stops. Complete set of co-eval windows; the ground floor windows are 4-lights with square leaded panes and 1 iron casement (some C20 repair to right hand windows), similar 3-light first floor windows. A plaque on the front of the building is inscribed "John Pinsent of Lincolns Inn Esq., born in this parish, hath erected this for a free school and endowed it with Thirty Pounds Pannum (sil) Forever. 1668", coat of arms above plaque. Interior The lateral stack has an open fireplace with ashlar jambs and a replaced lintel below a relieving arch. The putative late C17 kitchen at the rear has a chamfered cross beam with scroll stops and an open fireplace with 1 stone rubble jamb and a replaced lintel. A C20 stair has been inserted in the position of the former passage. Roofspace not inspected, principal rafters visible in the first floor rooms appear to be straight. The coat of Arms on the left end wall referred to in the 1952 list description no longer exists. The intact fenestration of the house, which forms a group with the church, is a notable survival.

Listing NGR: SX8667479376