Westacott Farmhouse

SAMPFORD COURTENAY SS 60 SW 5/163 Westacott Farmhouse II Farmhouse. Circa late C18. Rendered stone rubble walls. Slate roof hipped to either side and gabled to rear wings where it has been grouted. 2 original axial brick stacks to front range with moulded cornice and dripcourse; projecting rendered ruoble stack with brick shaft at gable end of left-hand wing. Plan: principal rooms are in front range with one either side of a central stairhall. Behind the left-band room is a kitchen, behind the right-hand room is an inferior, probably service wing which is unheated. Exterior: 2 storeys. Symmetrical 3-window front of probably original 3-light small-paned casements with H-L hinges, some have projecting keystones above. Central pedimented doorcase with reeded pilasters and original 6-panel door which has had plan strips applied to the front. Rectangular fanlight above. The left- hand rear wing has original 12-pane hornless sashes on the ground floor and casements above. The right-hand rear wing has similar casements. Between the 2 at the rear is a leanto porch. Interior: a number of original 6 panel doors survive - those to the 2 principal rooms from the hall have moulded and dentilled cornices to their architraves. The left-hand room has panelled shutters with a carved flower in the central panel. Adjoining its fireplace is an alcove with arched head and pilasters. The kitchen has an open fireplace with dressed stone jambs. Original closed string staircase has chamfered square balusters and turned newels with ball finials. On the lst floor the left-hand room has a pedimented doorcase. The right-hand room has an original chimney-piece with classical frieze. On the landing is a cupboard with arched head, projecting keystones and reeded pilasters. Although not a large house Westacott was obviously built by farmers of some substance and has some surprisingly good quality features. It also incorporates in fragmentary form some C17 plasterwork and woodwork from Dunsland House wnich was destroyed by fire in the mid C20. In addition to containing interesting internal features the plan and exterior of the house remain remarkably unaltered.

Listing NGR: SS6197003332