Morson Farmhouse

BRATTON CLOVELLY SX 49 SE 7/5 Morson Farmhouse - GV II

Farmhouse. Probably C16, altered and extended in C17 with C19 addition. Rendered stone rubble and cob walls. Slate roof, partly grouted, gabled to right end,hipped to left. 2 axial stacks; the right-hand one is rubble with a slate dripcourse, the left-hand one is of granite ashlar with stone dripmoulds. 3-room and through-passage plan lower room to the left. The house may originally have had an open hall but this could not be proved without access to the roof space. The lower room is unheated. The hall stack backs onto the passage and probably pre- dates that to the inner room which is in an unusual axial position. This was probably inserted in the C17 and at the same time the inner room extended and a dog- leg stair added in a projection to its rear wall. The hall has a large projecting front bay which is also likely to be C17. In the C19 a rear outshut was added to the hall and part of lower end blocking the back door of the passage. 2 storeys. 4-window front with projecting hall bay to right of centre. Mainly circa late C19/early C20 3-light casements, 2-lights to ground floor left-hand window. First floor window above porch has C17 3-light ovolo-moulded wooden frame. C19 lean-to porch is to left of hall bay and incorporates pumphouse and granite trough. C20 part glazed door. At rear C19 outshut is at centre and shallow rectangular stair projection to left of centre. Interior has a number of good early features. The roof space was inaccessible at the time of survey but according to the owner it has cruck trusses. The lower room has a chamfered longitudinal beam with hollow step stops. Leading into the lower room from the passage is a probably original wooden roundheaded arch rebated in a square door frame, both moulded. The hall has chamfered cross-beams with worn hollow step stops. Its fireplace is granite framed with chamfered jambs, the lintel obscured; it has an oven at the rear. The square-headed wooden doorframe to the inner room is ovolo-moulded with worn stops. The inner room fireplace is blocked but according to the owners is also granite-framed. To the left is an C18 arched niche with curved back, reeded pilasters and dropped keystone; fielded panelling at the side. At the rear of the inner room the stairs are reached by a chamfered and stopped square-headed wooden doorframe with a fielded 2-panel door. Small C17 dog-leg staircase with closed string, turned balusters and newel and moulded handrail. This house forms part of an unaltered traditional farm complex and is itself little changed since the C19 preserving some good C16 and C17 features. It may incorporate some medieval fabric and its roof timbers are likely to be of importance.

Listing NGR: SX4589090391