East Graddon Farmhouse

Details

BLACK TORRINGTON SS 40 SE

10/8 East Graddon Farmhouse

14.2.58

- II

Farmhouse. Circa 1500 with probably mid - late C16 addition and early C17 alterations, modernised in late C20. Rendered cob walls at the front, exposed rubble at rear. Gable-ended thatch roof with hipped asbestos slate roof to former snippon. Rendered rubble axial stack with dripmoulds, raised in brick, brick gable- end stack to wing and C20 rendered stack at rear of former snippon. Plan: 3-room-and-through-passage plan formerly-with shippon at lower right end -its conversion in late C20 prevents positive identification of the house as a true Longhouse. Originally an open hall house with central hearth, the lower end was also open to the roof but it is uncertain whether the inner room was since its roof timbers have been replaced. A thick wall dividing the hall from inner room on ground floor does not continue above. An unusual aspect of the plan is the early wing added at the front of the higher end of the hall - it seems that it was 2 storeys from the start since it has an early doorway on the 1st floor although this raises questions on the flooring over of the hall into which the doorway opens. It is possible that the doorway was for ladder access into a chamber from the still open hall as its ceiling beam do not suggest a particularly early flooring over. Tnis and the insertion of the hall stack against the passage are more likely to have occured in the early C17. The inner room remained unheated and the ground floor room of the wing was probably used as a parlour with a fireplace in its end wall. The late C20 modernisation incorporated the conversion of-the shippon but otherwise Little alteration to the plan. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 2-window front with wing projecting to left of centre and converted snippon at right-hand end which has 3 late C20 dormer windows. Otherwise early - mid C20 1 and 2-light casements with 2 tall casements on inner face of wing. C20 part-glazed door to right of centre with thatch doorhood. To the left of the wing is another 2-light casement on the ground floor. Rear elevation has early C20 lean-to left of centre. Interior: hall and passage have chamfered cross beams with straight-cut stops. Hall fireplace has had the soffit of its lintel cut into, retains its cloam oven. The front wing has chamfered and straight-cut stop ceiling beams and similar lintel to smaller fireplace also with a cloam oven. Inner room has similar ceiling beams. on 1st floor is low doorway into wing with original 4-centred arch chamfered doorframe. Roof: over the wing are 2 pairs of probably raised crucks, one of which rests on a wall-post, with threaded purlins. Where the wing joins the main range there is a tie beam with stud partition above. No access to roof space over wing. Over the nall and passage are 2 nore cruck trusses, probably also raised crucks with threaded purlins, diagonal ridge and cranked collars halved onto the principals with dovetail joints. All are heavily smoke-blackened. Over the higher end the roof structure has been replaced probably in the C18. This is a well-preserved late medieval farmhouse in an area where not many survive, with an unusual plan form.

Listing NGR: SS4530103353

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

91561

Legacy System:

LBS

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