Rumleigh House

Rumleigh House is a large dwelling of circa mid-18th century origin with substantial early and mid-19th century additions and an early 20th century extension. The original house has walls of brick, with slate hanging on the side and part of the front. The rear sections are constructed of rubble, with one part slate hung, while the 20th century extension to the left-hand side is rendered. The roof is covered in asbestos slate, hipped to the main original section and 20th century blocks, and gabled to the rear wings. There are seven rendered brick chimney stacks, all positioned axially except for a lateral stack on the side of the rear block and another at right angles on the side of the mid-19th century wing.

The original house has an L-shaped plan with a complex and unusual layout. The front range comprises a 2-room plan with a larger room to the left and a central entrance to the right, which now opens into a partitioned space forming a smaller room and a central passage leading to the staircase and pantry. The former hall, consequently shallower than the left-hand room, originally served as the entrance. The kitchen is situated behind the stairs in a rear right wing. The three principal rooms on the first floor comprised a large room to the left at the front, a small room to the right, the staircase behind this, and another large room beyond in the wing.

By the early 19th century, further service rooms were added behind the kitchen, probably as the household enlarged. These were extended again in the mid-19th century with a wing added at right angles, possibly a dairy. In the early 20th century, the front block was extended to the left with a single-room addition in a similar external style, and the early 19th century rear wing section was heightened. A lean-to conservatory was added along the rear wall of the original front block, connecting the new extension and service range.

The house is mainly three storeys with an attic; the rear mid-19th century range is two storeys. The original front elevation to the right is symmetrical, featuring two windows, with a further window belonging to the 20th century extension to its left. In the original section, the outer two windows on each storey are canted bays, the right-hand bay being narrower with heavier glazing bars, probably original 12-pane sashes though only the top sash on each storey retains glazing bars. The left-hand windows are similar but likely 19th century. At the centre is a probably early 19th century enclosed Doric porch with moulded cornice. The early 20th century extension at the left-hand end features a large canted bay window on the ground and first floors.

On the right-hand side of the house, there are two light casements, probably of 20th century date, on each floor to the left, and at the centre is an original very tall round-headed stair window with small panes, with a window inserted below it. To its right is another original three-storey bay window similar to those at the front. To the right of this, the wall projects slightly, marking the early 19th century extension, and the fenestration becomes irregular. The original house has a modillion cornice below the eaves, which is reproduced over this extended section (heightened in the early 20th century) but with the modillions inverted.

The mid-19th century extension to the right of the rear wing incorporates a wing projecting at right angles. On the opposite left-hand side at the rear of the house is an original arched sash window with rusticated architrave on the second floor of the original rear wing. This has been copied in two windows on the early 19th century extension to its left. Below the 18th century window is an original bay window on the first floor similar to those at the front.

The interior contains several good quality original features. Original cornices survive in the principal rooms, being more elaborately moulded on the first floor. The front room to the right in the original block, formerly part of the entrance hall and now partitioned off, has a mid-18th century chimney piece with scrolled pediment and shouldered architrave. The passage leading to the stairs has two arches with pilasters, probably introduced in the early 19th century. The original staircase survives with closed string up to the first floor and cut string from then onwards. It features large column newels with columns on vase balusters, carved spandrels and a heavy moulded handrail. Adjoining it on the ground floor is fielded panelling. On the first floor, the right-hand room has a later 18th century Adam style chimney piece with reeded pilasters and frieze incorporating three plaques depicting classical figures and a wheat sheaf above each pilaster. The moulded cornice breaks forward at either end and has egg and dart moulding below. The adjoining first floor room has an original shouldered chimney piece with decorative plaques to the frieze depicting cherubs at the centre and wheat sheaves at either end, and a heavy moulded cornice.

The house is of particular interest for its unusual plan, with higher quality features concentrated on the first floor in the principal rooms, perhaps imitating grander houses of the period but more likely reflecting the special requirements of the owner. The relatively early use of brick in Devon is also notable.