Pioneer House And Stringfellow And Attached Walls, Gate And Railings

CHARD

ST3108 HIGH STREET 756-1/3/114 (South side) 29/07/76 Nos.119 AND 121 Pioneer House and Stringfellow and attached walls, gate and railings (Formerly Listed as: HIGH STREET (South side) Nos.119 AND 121 Pioneer House and Stringfellow House) (Formerly Listed as: HIGH STREET Garden walls, gatepiers and gates at Nos 119 and 121)

GV II

Two houses. C18. No.119 of limestone rubble with pantile roof. No.121 was altered c1838; stucco, probably on limestone rubble; painted stone plinth, archivolt, sills and cornice. Swept slate roof with stone ridge. Brick stacks to gable ends. Double-depth plan. 2 storeys. 3-window range to No.121; single-window range to No.119: the street front has 6/6-pane sashes with forward frames, the left return has C20 windows and door. No.121 has doorway with elliptical head and fanlight set in a reeded archivolt with keystone and imposts. To each side are mid C19 French windows with margin pane lights. First floor has a blind window with a plaque above the door flanked by 6/6-pane sash windows. A moulded cornice supports the gutter connected to a lead hopperhead fixed to the facade of No.123 to the right. INTERIOR: much altered, but reeded cornices survive in the 2 front rooms, that to the left embellished with stiff-leaf in 1935 and a mid C19 black marble fireplace. SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: rubblestone wall with stone coping encloses front garden surmounted by cast-iron railings of interlacing vertical oval design with finials; 2-leaf cast-iron gates hung on stone piers with moulded dome; similar piers at front corners. HISTORY: circular plaque set in central blind window has the inscription "Home of the late John Stringfellow, inventor of the aeroplane"; he was the inventor of the first engine-driven aeroplane which flew. His memorial at the cemetery in Zembard Lane (qv) is also listed.

Listing NGR: ST3174408542