Neadon Upper Hall

This is a first floor hall, later used as a barn and now restored as a house. Probably built in the late 15th century, it appears to have been abandoned and converted to a farm building in the late 17th century, then restored as a dwelling in 1982-3.

Construction and Materials

The walls are substantially faced in granite ashlar which survives to full height at each gable end, but there is evidence of considerable rebuilding to the front (north-west) face in granite rubble and to the rear wall with dressed granite. It is therefore uncertain whether the ashlar coursing from end to end is continuous or not. The walls are lined internally with granite rubble. The chimney stack to the south-west gable end is a late 20th century rebuild in granite ashlar. The roof is of Delabole dry slate with gable ends.

Original Plan and Layout

The original plan in its basic form seems clear: the living accommodation was always on the first floor, judging from the high quality features such as the fireplace, garderobe, laver and decorated cusp-headed window. From its lack of domestic features, small window openings and drain at one end, the ground floor always served a subsidiary purpose, probably originally for service, and was at some stage converted to a cattle house (shippon) from the evidence of a central drain. There was a through-passage to the south-west end of the ground floor.

The original form of the first floor is more problematic, mainly because of the roof construction. In their basic construction the three trusses are almost identical, comprising upper crucks morticed at the apex with a threaded ridge and triangular strengthening block beneath, with threaded purlins and cranked collars morticed into the principals. The discrepancy lies in the spacing of the bays: the two north-east bays are virtually twice the length of the south-west ones; the middle truss does not have curved feet but finishes higher up than the other two and has a hole in the soffit of its strengthening block; also the decoration to the two north-east bays in the form of chamfered timbers and wall-plates is absent in the other two bays.

One possible explanation for this discrepancy is that the two ends of the house were built (or one end perhaps rebuilt) at slightly different stages and the central truss was modified when the middle sections of the lateral walls were rebuilt. This is entirely feasible but an alternative explanation might be that the difference between the two ends of the roof represents a difference in status and possibly function of the space below. Thus the end with the fireplace, adjacent garderobe and laver, and large original window opening would have the decorative roof. If the two window openings occupying blocked doorways on the north-west face were to be considered as original doorways from their chamfered lintels and straight sides, then the truss above would automatically have to be shorter than the others. The only reason to have two adjacent external doorways would be if there was a full height partition at this position inside, for which the hole in the soffit of the strengthening block might possibly suggest evidence of a stave for a wattle and daub partition. The collar beneath also has similar holes but as this was moved from the adjacent building it cannot be considered as further evidence.

Firmer evidence for a lower partition more towards the north-east end is provided by a deep groove in the upper face of the cross beam and the stubs of a former cross beam above which presumably acted as a head beam for a wooden screen. The existence of an original small second floor window at the north-east gable end adds to the evidence for a sleeping platform at this end. This screen and platform were reconstructed in the restoration of 1982-3.

Exterior Description

The building has two storeys. On the north-west front at ground floor to the right is a wide doorway with heavy timber door frame, chamfered with three-centred arched head. At the left end is a ventilation slit low down in the wall with an adjacent very small square opening. At the far left is a late 20th century reconstructed wooden staircase. To the right and a little below this is some evidence of pockets in the stonework which might have been to carry some form of gallery, possibly extending to the two former doorways on first floor right of centre.

On the first floor to the far left is a small single light late 20th century casement with leaded panes in an original opening. To the right of it is an original doorway with heavy timber frame, chamfered with four-centred arched head and old timber lintel above. Two blocked doorways to right of centre are now occupied by inserted late 20th century casements with leaded panes.

The south-west (right) gable end has a small original window slit to the right with arched head; below it is a cantilevered projecting moulded granite lip to the laver.

The rear (south-east) face has an original small window opening on the ground floor right. At ground level to the right is an original semi-circular drain-hole carved out of a single granite block. To centre and centre left are two doorways, with further to the left a later window inserted into the blocked rear door to the former passage. There is a rectangular garderobe projection to the far left. On the first floor is a small window to the right and a larger original tall window opening to centre left; both have late 20th century wooden casements with leaded panes.

On the north-east gable end first floor is a late 15th century window with two-light wooden frame with central mullion and transom forming smaller lights below. Each light has a cusped head although those to the lower lights have virtually worn away. The spandrels have finely carved foliage and the whole is set within a chamfered wooden frame. The stone surround to the opening is grooved to take the frame. A late 20th century leaded pane window is set behind and also to a smaller original window opening above.

From the north corner of this gable end the courtyard boundary wall extends approximately 15 metres north-west to the adjacent outbuilding. Part at least is contemporary with the house as for a short distance the lower few courses are an extension in ashlar of the stonework of the house. Otherwise the wall is of granite rubble with small rubble capping. There is a gateway at the north-west end with dressed granite piers and moulded granite caps appearing to be re-used pier bases, and a drainage outlet at the lower left hand end.

Interior

The interior is very good with many original features surviving. On the ground floor is one original cross beam, chamfered with hollow stops and with some chamfered and stopped joists. There is also another later, rougher beam.

On the first floor all the openings have chamfered and stopped lintels. The gable end fireplace is granite framed with a straight lintel, hollow chamfered; the jambs continue the chamfer with ball stops. To the left of the fireplace is the laver with moulded edge and drainage hole at the back to the outside. To the left and at right angles is the garderobe with a round-headed timber doorframe, chamfered, and original drainage hole. Adjacent to the garderobe the window has dressed granite splayed sides.

Historical Context

There is a considerable amount of documentary material relating to the settlement at Neadon, the earliest known one being The Devonshire Lay Subsidy of 1332 which refers to "Peter Bynythedon" in Manaton parish. At various times the property passed through the possession of the Foxford and Nosworthy families, and a deed of 1666 mentions three tenements at Neadon.

Significance

This is a building of outstanding architectural interest both for its unusual plan form — the only known survival of such in Devon — and for the remarkable existence of a great many original features. There are, however, several puzzling aspects of the house and it is impossible to be entirely certain of what the original building was like; quite possibly it is the most complete survival of a complex of medieval buildings now disappeared or substantially altered, as the courtyard wall and adjacent building seem to suggest.