Stone Farmhouse

WIDECOMBE-IN- SX 77 NW THE-MOOR 2/210 Stone Farmhouse -

• II

House, probably a former longhouse. Late medieval, remodelled and probably enlarged in C16; C20 additions at rear. Granite rubble with patches of ashlar, especially at the lower end; the outer face of front wall has been considerably rebuilt. Water reed thatched roof at front, slated at rear. 4 granite chimneystacks, 1 in each gable, 2 on ridge; all have tapered caps, but that on the right-hand gable is probably considerably later than the rest. 3-room and through-passage plan with probable former shippon at lower end. Hall stack backs on to passage. Room at upper end is unusual in having been a kitchen with stack dividing it from hall. 2 storeys. 5-window front. Ground storey has a granite-mullioned window to each room with an additional C20 window (in an older opening) to the hall and kitchen. The 2 right-hand windows appear to be almost entirely late C19 or early C20, although the hall window may have one early jamb. The kitchen window, of 3 lights, seems to have an old frame, but with renewed mullions; the right-hand jamb seems to be a re-used king-mullion. To the right of the right-hand window is a blocked ventilation slit. Windows in upper storey have C19 wood casements, with round heads pushing up into the thatch. Doorway has medieval shouldered wood door-frame, matched by a similar door-frame, slightly mutilated, at the rear of the passage. C20 thatched porch at the front. Interior: Hall has a large granite fireplace, probably of C16, with hollow-moulded surround and pyramid stops; stone-framed oven at the back. In the rear wall is a deep recess designed like a chute. Kitchen fireplace is similar to that in the hall, but with different stops, possibly scroll-stops. 2 ovens at the back. In the rear wall is a chamfered granite doorway with 2-centred arch and what are probably intended as pyramid stops. In rear wall between hall and kitchen a winding stone staircase. The back of hall stack, facing the passage, is plastered, but at the base is a chamfered plinth, characteristic of Dartmoor; there is probably high- quality ashlar masonry beneath the plaster. The lower room has a well-made ventilation slit, now blocked, in each of the front and back walls, suggesting strongly that this was originally a shippon. The upper-floor beams and roof have been rebuilt in C20. The farm seems to have been owned and occupied by the Man family, who described themselves as yeomen, in the late C16 to mid C17. Source: Devon Record Office 48/14/50/9, 48/14/51/1, together with other deeds; there are also deeds of Stone back to C15.

Listing NGR: SX7211979436