Hallswell

SX 76 NE BROADHEMPSTON 1/37 Hallswell - - II Farmhouse. Circa late C15, altered in C17, extensively modernised in late C20. Rubble walls, rendered at sides and rear. Rendered rubble projecting lateral stack at front. Grouted scantle slate roof at front of house, asbestos slates at rear, gable ended, extends over outshuts at the front. Originally 3-room and through passage plan with hall and lower end open to the roof and inner room ceiled with chamber above. Hall and lower end ceiled in C17. At a subsequent stage the lower room was demolished. Outshut added to front of inner room probably in C19. In late 1970s the house was extensively modernised during which an original doorway and window frame and also a plank and muntin screen were removed. At this stage the leanto rubble porch was added to the front of the right- hand end. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical front with C19 outshut to left and late C20 porch to right. In between them is the lateral stack with single light C20 casement to its right with glazing bars. C20 door at centre of left-hand outshut with 2-light C20 casement either side, with glazing bars. C20 casements to rear of house with French window on ground floor. Interior: few original or early features have survived the modernisation. The hall has a cross beam and half beam at the higher end, both roughly chamfered, without stops. 5 original roof trusses survive which extend down into the walls and are probably jointed crucks. They have threaded purlins and ridge with morticed sharply cranked collars. 2 at the higher end are clean, the central one, at the upper end of the hall, is a closed truss with straight collar, smoke-blackened on the hall side and the others are heavily smoke-blackened on both sides. The original doorframe which was removed had been at the front of the passage. It was a heavy oak frame, chamfered with a pronounced ogee at the top. The window frame which was removed was originally located in the right hand first floor opening at the rear of the house. It was a 2-light wooden mullion with cusped head to each light. The plank and muntin screen which was taken out divided the hall from the passage and had chamfered muntins and head-beam. (These details taken from owner's photographs of house during restoration). Apparently the door and window frames have been preserved in an outbuilding and are still in good condition. Had it been preserved with its features insitu this would have been a remarkable survival for this area of a former open hall house. The early form of door and window frame would be a particularly unusual survival in this part of Devon. Only the relatively complete medieval roof now gives any indication of the building's true age. The relatively high quality of its construction and elaborate form of window and doorway suggest that this was once quite a high status house in the area.

Listing NGR: SX7837767821