Church Cottage

MANATON MANATON SX 78 SW 4/62 - Church Cottage (formerly 23.8.55 listed as part of Ivy Cottage) GV II House, formerly Church house. Early C16 probably remodelled in C18. Modernised late C20. Granite rubble walls with large dressed granite quoins. South gable wall rendered. Original plan much altered, layout of C18 plan probably remains: 2-room and central stair hall, each room heated by end stacks. 2 storeys. Symmetrical 5-window front range. 3-light C20 casements with glazing bars probably in C18 openings with squared timber lintels. First floor centre is a 2-light casement. Central doorway with C20 plank door with timber lintel. C20 thatched rustic wooden porch. Rear facade has asymmetrical fenestration, mostly disposed to the right-hand end. Right-hand first floor has early C16 2-light granite-framed mullion window with 4- centred arched heads, hollow chamfered with recessed spandrels, possibly re-set. 2 reconstituted concrete mullion windows later C20 and 3 other smaller windows. Rear wall possibly not rebuilt to same extent as front one. Interior much altered but contains 3 roughly dressed cross beams, 2 in right-hand ground floor room. The one nearest the gable end rests on stone corbel at either end and has run-out stops and chamfer both sides, possibly re-used. C18 8-bay roof consisting of straight principals morticed at apex with straight collars, lapped and pegged to principals. Walter Besant wrote some of his novels here. Although altered in C18, this is an interesting example of a Church house in a very important setting. Church house granted by deed dated 11 November 1597 to John Whiddon Sen., and others for ever. The last trust deed is dated 1809. As the house became dilapidated it was pulled down and then re-built as a poor-house at the expense of the parish Source: G W Copeland, Devonshire Church-Houses part VI, Trans. Devonshire Association Vol.XCVIII - 1966.

Listing NGR: SX7496281298