Thorne Farmhouse

Description

This information is taken from the statutory List as it was in 2001 and may not be up to date.

BROADWOODWIDGER SX 38 NE 7/43 Thorne Farmhouse - GV II Farmhouse. Late medieval core, C16, C17 and C18 alterations. Probably stone rubble, whitewashed and rendered; partly thatched, partly slated roof, gabled at the left end and hipped at the right end of the main range, 2 span slate roof to rear wing with 2 gables to rear. Rendered stack at left end, rendered axial stack at junction between thatched and slated roof, gable end stack to rear wing.

Late medieval open hall house, possibly with an inner room, ceiled over in the late C16 when the cross passage and lower end room were added. The hall was heated by a stack backing on to the passage, the lower end room was probably an unheated service room. In the circa early C18 the 3 room and through passage plan was extended by the addition of a rear kitchen and service room with a rear stair. The lower end fireplace may have been inserted in the early C18 to convert the service room to a heated parlour. In circa 1800 a new stair was inserted at the rear of the passage.

2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window front, the roof thatched at the left and slated at the right. C20 gabled porch on front to the left of the axial stack leads into the cross passage. Small bay with sloping slate roof to ground floor right is probably C18, with a 3-light casement, 6 panes per light. All the fenestration with plain architraves: 3-light casements, 6 panes per light to ground and first floor left; 2- light casement, 6 panes per light above porch, 2-light casement, 3 panes per light to first floor window to left of bay.

Interior Curved foot smoke-blackened truss with E-apex over hall (Alcock). The hall fireplace blocked with a C20 grate, probably concealing earlier features. The ceiling has 2 narrow chamfered half beams with cut stops, the ends of the chamfered central beam have been replaced, chamfered joists have step stops. A trimmer beam indicates that a straight stair existed at one time to the right of the fireplace, probably replacing an earlier newel. The projecting bay has an C18 planked back.

The front door to the passage is cross-planked with imitation bolts in wooden studs: it is either a notable C17 door but "might be C18/C19 archaic" (Alcock). A similar rear side door to the passage is narrower with the horizontal planks to the exterior and may have been reversed when the rear stair was inserted. The passage has 2 chamfered half beams, one with a scroll stop. The circa 1800 rear stair is high status with a turned newel post. The lower end room (left) has a fireplace with a plain lintel and a recess to the right with a low rough lintel. There is a moulded cornice and a cross and half beam with small scroll stops. Circa late C18/early C19 parlour china cupboard. The first floor has a chamfered C17 doorframe with scroll stops.

A house with a very unspoiled interior illustrating the small scale of some high status west Devon houses when compared with those in east Devon and described as an "important example of successive developments of a small west Devon farmhouse" (Alcock).

Alcock, MS notes dated July 1980.

Listing NGR: SX3909088319

Content

This is part of the Series: IOE01/0990 IOE Records taken by Barbara Hilton; within the Collection: IOE01 Images Of England

Rights

© Dr Barbara Hilton. Source: Historic England Archive

This photograph was taken for the Images of England project