Higher Wampford Farmhouse

Details

KINGS NYMPTON KINGS NYMPTON SS 62 SE 1/120 Higher Wampford Farmhouse - II Farmhouse, now divided into 2 occupations. Probably early C16 fabric to front wing, main range probably late C17 or early C18, with C19 alterations. Main range unrendered stone rubble with cob to rear. Thatch roof with gable ends. Tall rear lateral stone rubble hall stack. Brick stack at right end and stone rubble stack towards left end. Front wing at left end of painted stone rubble and cob with asbestos slate roof, hipped at front end. Capped stone rubble stack at front end, and C20 brick ridge stack. Plan: overall L-shaped plan, consisting of main range of 3 rooms and cross-passage plan with front wing at left end, incorporating early core, later used as outbuildings but now in process of reconversion to dwellings. Complex development. The early core is in fact situated at the front end of the wing, the capped stack being the remains of a front lateral stack added to a former open hall house which originally ran parallel with the main range. Until circa 1980 2 jointed cruck trusses survived which were smoke-blackened, but the range has now been entirely reroofed following the direction of the rest of the wing's roof structure. Both ends of the former hall have been rebuilt, making it uncertain whether originally there was a lower end and inner room, so that all that survives of the early core is the front wall, with hall-bay to left of former front lateral stack and probable blocked through-passage doorway to right, the rear wall and the post of a jointed cruck truss. The hall, to judge by the scratch-moulded joists, was floored in the C17, probably at the same time as the rear kitchen/service wing was added which would have formed an overall T-shaped plan. The kitchen wing contains floor timbers probably re-used from the remainder of the farmhouse. At a late date, either in the C18 or C19, the range was converted for use as farm buildings, external stone steps being added to service the first floor granary over the former kitchen wing. This may have occurred at the same time as the new range, which forms the present principal dwelling, was built, but the possibility that 2 separate farmhouses co-existed for a time cannot be dismissed. The later range is of standard 3-room and cross-passage type, with lower end to right and staircase in the cross-passage. Cooking was originally done in the hall, but probably in the C19 the main range and front wing were connected by the addition of a kitchen at the left end of the main range which is heated by the stack backing onto the former left gable end wall of the main range. Exterior: 2 storeys. Main range has 4-window range, all C19 2-light casements. 6 panes per light. Ground floor has 2 C19 3-light casements, 6 panes per light and C20 2-light 3 panes at left end. 2 gabled slate porch canopy roofs with shaped bargeboards and 4 panelled doors. Wing has C20 fenestration except for small 4-light ovolo mullion with pintles for shutters and long narrow single light window opening with original shutter to rear. Interior: main range has C19 joinery including principally 3-panelled ledged doors with original H-L hinges surviving throughout. 3 trusses with straight rough principals and lapped collars. Wing has 2 chamfered cross ceiling beams to original hall with scratch-moulded joists. Kitchen wing to rear has 3 chamfered cross beams, probably reused and old joists, 7 of which have roll-mouldings and a section of heavily moulded beam has also been reused as a joist.

Listing NGR: SS6949122327

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

97297

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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