Plymtree Manor

Details

PLYMTREE ST 00 SE 3/131 Plymtree Manor (previously listed as Hayne House) 22.2.55 GV II*

Former manor house. Early C18, partly rebuilt and enlarged in the late C19 renovated in 1987. The front part is hand-made local red brick laid to Flemish bond with Beerstone ashlar detail (some replaced with Caen stone), the rear is late C19 Flemish bond brick including some decorative burnt headers; brick stacks and chimneyshafts, the old ones with stone ashlar coping; slate roof. Plan: large double depth plan house facing east. The principal rooms are those 3 at the front. The end rooms have end stacks and the larger central room, the entrance hall, has 2 fireplaces from axial stacks each end. Kitchen, services and main stair in the rear section. Here too are end stacks and an axial stack. A lower L-plan service wing is attached to the left (south) end and it has faces to rear. In fact only the front part of the main block is original. There is a brick axial wall between the front and back rooms which includes some blocked rear windows. It is not clear where the original stairs, kitchen and services were situated. The front faces onto a raised terrace. It is 2 storeys with attics and a cellar. The rear is 2 storeys with a basement, the service wing is 2 storeys, its ground floor at basement level. Exterior: good early C18 front has a symmetrical 2:3:2-window front of early C18 18-pane sashes with ellipitcal arch heads to the top sashes and flat glazing bars (some are replacements from 1987). Central doorway contains C19 double doors but the doorframe and overlight is probably early C18. The stone doorcase includes Corinthian pilasters and the moulded entablature includes a carved coat of arms, probably that of the Harwood family. The front is divided into 3 bays by stone ashlar giant Corinthian orders and there are ashlar quoins each end. There is a moulded eaves cornice and 3 attic dormers. The roof is hipped both ends. On the right end the front part is in the same style as the front with a 2-window front, the rear windows are blind. Behind is a late C19 2-storey brick porch containing round-headed sashes and a panelled door with fanlight. The left end also has a 2- window front but here the rear windows are smaller and all have segmental brick arches over. The ground drops here and there is a cellar door with a 2-light window with chamfered mullion. The late C19 rear elevation is in late C17 -early C18 style with mullion-and-transom windows but also including a large 25-pane sash to the stairs. The gables each end contain oculus windows. There appears to have been a pent roof against the wall at basement level. One still remains this side of the service wing which contains C20 casements with glazing bars. Interior: the original cellar has a brick segmental vaulted roof. Original features are preserved in the front part of the main block. All three ground floor front rooms have moulded cornices. The left room has bolection-moulded chimneypiece. The right room has the remains of similar large field panelling. The first floor right chamber has a good C19 ornamental plaster cornice. The original roof is a fine piece of carpentry; oak tie beam trusses, the principal with curved cruck-like feet, sprocketted eaves and pegged mortise-and-tenoned collars. The carpenter's assembly marks were made with red wax crayon. The rest of the joinery and carpentry is late C19. The early C18 front is very impressive and most unusual for Devon. Edwin S. Chalk researches report that the house was built for the Harward family who held the manor for three centuries and that it had been "recently finished in the same style by the owner Mr. Leon." Source: Edwin S. Chalk, Early Brick Buildings in Devon and Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries, No 22, part 1 (1920 - 21) pp 54 - 55.

Listing NGR: ST0586602939

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

86887

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Chalk, E S, Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries in Early Brick Buildings in Devon and Cornwall, Vol. 22, (1920-21), 54-55

End of official list entry

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