The Manor House And Attached Wall And Stable Block

The Manor House and Attached Wall and Stable Block

A detached house in its own grounds at Eastern Beach, Lynmouth, now used as a residential home. Dating from the late 18th or early 19th century, the building is rendered with slate roofs and comprises a compact square main range with a central portico and lateral open-well stair. Attached to the east side is a service range in two parts: the first consisting of two gabled parallel ranges, and the second a lower single range.

The principal range rises two storeys, with three windows to each of the three exposed elevations. Some original glazing-bar sashes remain, though others have been replaced by two-light casements with transoms. The entrance front faces south and features 12-pane sashes at each floor to the right, and a plain sash above 12-pane to the left. Centred over the portico is a casement, and to its left is an inserted escape door leading to an external iron stair. The Ionic portico has a plain flat entablature and small blocking course, set above a panelled door and transom light in plain reveals.

Each exposed front has a ground floor that is channelled with a plain mid string and voussoirs to the windows, a shallow cornice with blocking course and coping, and end pilasters inflected to the rustication and cornice. The left return displays one plain sash and two casements above a 20th-century square hipped glazed extension, and a deep casement. The north front, facing the sea, has two casements and one 12-pane sash above a full-width hipped glazed extension. The main hipped roof contains a central valley to a doubled east end, with two ridge stacks positioned near the west end.

The service ranges rise two storeys with various windows, including 12- and 16-pane sashes and casements. A lean-to porch stands in the angle between the doubled and single ranges on the entrance side. Five stacks serve these ranges.

Interior examination of part of the main range reveals much original detail has been lost through successive modifications. The main staircase, positioned to the right of entry, is a generous open-well stair set beneath an elliptical roof-light on a flat dome of Soanean design. The basement retains original ceiling joists, and part of the floor is cobbled.

At the right-hand end of the entrance front to the main block is a return wall with a segmental arch featuring a floating triple keystone on plain responds with square capitals, leading to the service yard. This wall connects with a stable or carriage house, partly set against rising ground on its south side. The building is rough rendered with a slate roof and comprises two parts. The left half has two 12-pane sashes and a small gable stack, while the right part has two lights at eaves level above an elliptical opening with a pair of doors and a split fanlight, three 12-pane sashes, and a further small door with elliptical head opening into a brick-vaulted compartment with a grassed earth roof. Two brick stacks serve the building. First-floor rooms are accessible from the path to the south side through broad plank doors. The main block has a stone floor. A further detached service block stands to the east, not included in this listing.

A modest gentleman's house on an important site facing out to sea, the building retains much of its original dignity, though it has suffered some loss from nonconforming window replacement and extensions.