Tumbly

Tumbly is a country cottage built in 1926 by Fred Harrild of Totnes, a pupil of Sir Edwin Lutyens. The cottage features east and west wings that were added in the 1930s, with the west wing extended in 1952. It is constructed of rendered stone and has a thatched hipped roof at various levels, characterized by deep eaves with boarded soffits that rise as eyebrows over some windows. The chimney stacks are rendered with slated weathering, and the building showcases a picturesque vernacular revival style.

The cottage has an asymmetrical plan and elevations, primarily consisting of a central block that is two storeys tall with an attic, topped by a higher hipped roof from which an off-centre stack rises below the ridge. There are lower projecting single-storey wings on the east, west, and south sides, each with hipped roofs. The north elevation features a French window with sidelights and eyebrow eaves above, along with a dormer within thatch. A lateral chimney stack is located to the left in the lower east wing, which has windows at its two corners and a splayed recessed doorway at the angle with the main block.

The west side exhibits an asymmetrical elevation, with eaves that rise over a window featuring a corbelled slate drip mould. The thatch sweeps down to the left over a projection at the angle with the west wing, which includes a corner window and a narrow back doorway at the angle with the south wing. An attic dormer in thatch is positioned above. The west wing has segmentally curved eaves over windows facing west and south. The cottage features timber mullion windows with metal frame casements that have square leaded panes, as well as plank doors.

Inside, there are moulded plank doors and small brick round arch fireplaces in the dining room and attic, each with moulded timber mantel shelves. Notably, R.C. Sherriff, the playwright, lived at Tumbly in the 1930s and wrote the play "Journey's End" during his time there.