Galsham Farmhouse

Galsham Farmhouse

A farmhouse with origins probably in the mid-17th century, though bearing datestones of 1682 and 1717, with a later 18th-century addition. The house is constructed of plastered rubble walls, possibly incorporating some cob. The main range and inner front wing have hipped slate roofs with old crested ridge tiles, while the right-hand wing is gable-ended. A very large rubble axial stack with dripcourses serves the main range, with brick stacks positioned at the right-hand side of the inner wing and at the rear gable of the outer wing.

The plan is complex and reveals a developmental sequence. Basically L-shaped, the inner wing running north-south is probably the earlier structure, with features appearing to date to the mid-17th century, though it bears a 1682 datestone which may refer to a remodelling rather than the original construction. In 1717, a new range was added at right angles to the north-west of the older house in the double-depth style of that period, incorporating the older part to create a central stairhall with two principal rooms to the left and one room from the older range to the right. The entrance was into the corner of the older wing, which was then taken into the new stairhall with a heated room at the front. A further wing was built parallel to this outer wing, probably later in the 18th century. Evidence suggests the house may once have been larger and has been truncated, as its internal features and style indicate a building of some importance.

The exterior is of two storeys. An asymmetrical L-shaped front presents a larger range with deep hipped roof to the left, two windows wide with replaced 12-pane sashes on each floor. Projecting from its right end is a wing bearing a datestone of 1682 below the eaves. To the left on its first floor is an early 19th-century 12-pane sash. In the angle with the main range is a lean-to porch of 19th or early 20th-century date, behind which is an early 18th-century 2-panel door with planks applied to the front. At the end of the wing is a replaced 12-pane sash on the first floor and paired early 19th-century 12-pane sashes below. The parallel wing to its right projects slightly with a single-storey outbuilding extending from the front.

The rear elevation bears a datestone of 1717 with the initials C.V. (Charles Velly) to the right of centre. A 12-pane early 19th-century sash appears to the right, with a larger contemporary 12-pane stair window to its left. Below this is a horizontal sliding late 18th or early 19th-century 18-pane sash. A 2-light 19th-century casement appears to the right, with two blocked window openings to the left. The left-hand rear elevation features a 17th-century 3-light chamfered stone mullion window on the ground floor to the right. 19th-century paired 15-pane sashes appear above and to the left, with a 19th-century panelled door below to the right of centre. A later wing extends to the left-hand end, projecting forward.

The interior of the 1717 range preserves a fairly complete early 18th-century scheme with high-quality features. Several 2-panel doors survive, some bolection-moulded. A good dog-leg staircase features square panelled newels, turned and moulded balusters, and a deep moulded handrail. At the bottom is a dog gate of open fretwork design with curved top, reputedly from Hartland Abbey. The first floor reveals a large landing, with evidence from 2-panel doors and a cyma recta moulded plaster cornice that the early 18th-century room arrangement is preserved. The rear left-hand first floor room contains a wooden bolection-moulded chimneypiece and a built-in cupboard with three fielded panelled doors. The front room has an 18th-century chimneypiece with moulded surround and dentilled cornice. In the 1682 wing on the first floor is a doorframe and door of mid-17th-century type with ovolo-moulded frame and a very fine quality door with panel frame of moulded stiles, muntins and rails on one side, and chamfered and stopped rails and stiles on the reverse. Scratched on the window glass in the room behind are the names John Shelley dated either 1728 or 1798, and another date 1746.

The roof structure comprises straight principals with collars halved on with notched lap joints, the apex halved with a form of yoke nailed on front and back, and trenched purlins. This is a relatively unusual survival in North Devon of a dated late 17th and early 18th-century house which preserves numerous period features and may conceal others.

Galsham stands on an early site, having been granted by Geoffrey de Dinant to Hartland Abbey, and was for many years the property of the Velly family. The initials C.V. on the 1717 datestone probably refer to Charles Velly, born 1653.