Merefield House

CREWKERNE

ST4409 EAST STREET 876-1/7/72 (North side) 12/06/50 Merefield House

GV II*

House, now 2 dwellings. Dated 1661 and 1683; east wing (to right of front) dated 1900; the central block is c1830, and the west wing is late C19. MATERIALS: coursed limestone rubble to the older wing, Ham Hill stone ashlar to the C19 blocks; slate roof with stone stacks. PLAN: roughly L-shape plan, with mid C17 block to the rear right, the 1683 block stepped forward to the front right, the c1830 block to the centre and the late C19 block to the far left; the wing of c1900 projects forward from the C17 ranges to the right. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; attics to the C17 wings; the late C19 wing is single-storey. The main entrance is in the c1830 facade to the central block. This is a symmetrical 3-window range. The moulded cornice extends over the coping of the older, lower, wing to the right, almost at ridge-level; the first-floor is articulated by 4 shallow, panelled pilasters flanking 8/8-pane sashes with moulded architraves, floating cornices and panelled aprons resting on a platband, into which a shallow pediment is cut over the door, and the lower edge has a roll-moulding; steps up to the segmental recessed porch, which has free-standing fluted Doric columns to the sides and a 6-panel door, remodelled c1900 with leaded glazing to the top and to the large overlight; flanked by large mid C20 French windows. The right-hand range has 3 gables facing east: that to the rear, probably rebuilt with a shallower pitched roof than the others, has a central gable stack and a datestone of 1661. The 2 gables to the front are 2 storeys with attics and hollow-moulded stone-mullioned casements under label moulds, 2-light to the attics and 3-light below; between the gables is an external stack. The front of this wing, facing north, also has stone-mullioned casements with c1900 decorative leading, and two datestones, 1683 and 1900. The west wing, now a separate dwelling, is single-storey, with a parapet wall over a large canted bay occupying the whole front. Mid C18 panelled door to rear. INTERIOR: The roof of the mid C17 central unit of the rear right wing is a 2-bay A frame with trenched purlins; the fireplace in the lateral stack has a Tudor-arched stone lintel. The rear unit has a former open fireplace, both have stone-flagged floors. The mid C19 unit retains reeded moulding to the cornices, elliptical recesses and 6-panel doors. The late C19 west wing also retains panelling and 4-panel doors. A fine house, which groups with a fine set of entrance gates and walls (qv) and a gazebo (qv) set in its original garden. A notable group.

Listing NGR: ST4427709854