Combe Sydenham
Combe Sydenham
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1057497
- Date first listed:
- 22-May-1969
- List Entry Name:
- Combe Sydenham
- Statutory Address:
- Combe Sydenham
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1057497
- Date first listed:
- 22-May-1969
- List Entry Name:
- Combe Sydenham
- Statutory Address 1:
- Combe Sydenham
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Combe Sydenham
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Stogumber
- National Park:
- Exmoor
- National Grid Reference:
- ST 07612 36743
Details
ST03NE
5/158
STOGUMBER CP
COMBE SYDENHAM
Combe Sydenham
22.5.69
I
Manor house. Late C15-early C16, porch added 1580 to south front, west front refenestrated, at least two stair turrets added 1580 or circa 1630-40, another stair inserted in angle turret circa 1800, south front refenestrated and buildings to north and east demolished, C19 west wing and possibly south wing reroofed. Roughcast over rubble, moulded plinth, Ham stone ashlar porch, slate roof hipped to left.
Plan: South front open hall, now ceiled, screens passage opening from porch, buttery right, stair turret at rear of fireplace to left of screen passage, west wing first floor hall, later stair inserted in second stair turret set in angle.
South front: two storeys, 4:1:1 bays; full height gabled porch, early C19 leaded wooden casements, four-light in outer bays, others three-light, four-light ovolo moulded mullioned and transomed window to porch, coat of arms in decorative frame below, inscribed and dated 1580, unfluted Ionic pilasters on tall plinths carrying billetted frieze, moulded semi-circular arched opening with busts set in roundels in spandrels, ornamented cross vault, more complex mouldings with stops to similar arched inner doorway, heraldic beasts in spandrels,studded plank door possibly C17, left return (West front) half hipped to left roughcast with quoins,single storey stepped buttresses, large external stepped stack between first and second bays right. 3:4:1 bays,all windows under square hood moulds, first floor left three sixteen-light ovolo moulded mullioned and transomed windows, twelve pane sash windows centre, mullioned and transomed windows left, cinquefoil headed lancet right filled with decorative design said to represent earlier formal garden layout on west front, two hollow chamfered mullioned and transomed windows right with cinquefoil heads, arched entrance with plank door. Gothic tracery fanlight, two similar windows right, inner one blocked below cusped head.
Cross gabled three storey stair turret on rear elevation, twelve pane sash windows on south front, two storey stair turret to left, presumed to have had a now demolished upper storey.
Interior: partially viewed. Remains of late C16-early C17 plasterwork friezes, early C19 plasterwork decoration to staircase with stick stair and cut strips, fine stone newel stair in turret to rear of hall fireplace, depressed Tudor arched head to fireplace lintel moulded jambs,similar two openings to buttlery right, and truncated stair turret; screens passage and opening to stair turret in angle with semi-circular moulded arched leads similar to porch. Upper storey south wing not viewed, hall roof thought to have been renewed C19; west wing gutted prior to restoration (January 1984).
The daughter of Sir Georqe Sydenham, who enlarged the house, married Sir Francis Drake.
(Photograph in NMR).
Listing NGR: ST0761236743
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 264921
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Dunning, R W, The Victoria History of the County of Somerset, (1985)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 08:53:40.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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