Deckport

Deckport is a farmhouse, formerly probably a small manor house, dating to the early to mid 17th century with probable 18th and 19th century additions. The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar to the porch and coursed squared sandstone rubble exposed to the lower part of the walls, with rendering above probably concealing cob. The roof is gable-ended with grouted slate tiles. At the right gable end is a sandstone ashlar chimney stack with dripmoulds and moulded dripcourse. A large axial stack of similar materials is constructed of four integral shafts with a moulded cap.

The plan follows a 3-room arrangement with a 2-storey porch positioned in front of a baffle entry against the axial stack between the left-hand and central rooms. The parlour is situated to the left with the hall at centre, both heated by the axial stack, and the kitchen at the right-hand end. Beyond the parlour at the left-hand end is an outbuilding wing with a granary on the first floor extending to the rear. It is possible this wing is integral, though it is unlikely that an outbuilding would have adjoined a parlour, suggesting instead that it is probably an 18th century addition. A 19th century outshut extends along the rear of the house.

The exterior presents 2 storeys in an asymmetrical 6-window front with a slightly projecting 2-storey porch positioned left of centre. The ground floor left-hand window to the parlour is a 17th century moulded stone mullion of 6 lights with king mullions and hoodmould. All other windows have stone hoodmoulds and occupy original openings, but 19th century 2, 3, 4 and 5-light leaded pane casements have been inserted. The first floor left-hand window incorporates some coloured panes at the top which may be re-used old glass. Two of the first floor windows to the right of the porch have chamfered wooden mullions. The central ground floor window to the right of the porch features heraldic shields in the labels of its hoodmould.

The gabled porch contains a 17th century square-headed ovolo-moulded wooden doorframe with high hollow step stops and a contemporary studded plank door. The doorframe is set in a segmental headed surround with hoodmould above. The first floor of the porch contains a 17th century 2-light moulded and chamfered stone mullion window with hoodmould. Above it is a stone plaque with a shield carved with the initials J.S.S. dated 1892, which probably marks a 19th century restoration. A 20th century plank door is positioned to the right of centre. At the left-hand end of the house, stone steps lead to a first floor doorway of the granary which extends in a wing to the rear.

The interior hall has an open fireplace with an obscured lintel. An ovolo-moulded 17th century doorframe with studded plank door leads to the hall from the entrance lobby. The parlour has a fireplace with dressed and moulded sandstone jambs with incised scroll stops and an ovolo-moulded wooden lintel. Above the fireplace is a contemporary plaster overmantle featuring a strapwork design and a figure at either end. The first floor was inaccessible at the time of survey, but the room above the parlour is also recorded as having a plaster overmantle to the fireplace with the inscription "sic transit gloria mundi".

Deckport was the residence of one branch of the Lethbridge family, who came there during the reign of Henry VII and were prominent gentry in Devon. The quality of the house's features reflects this status, and it is likely that more features survive which have been concealed by 19th century modernisation. Despite this, the building remains very unaltered by 20th century modernisation and preserves a particularly attractive and unspoilt exterior. Its internal plan form and features are also of considerable architectural interest.