Details
SS 72 SW BISHOP'S NYMPTON
5/3 Cross Farmhouse
20.2.67
II*
Farmhouse. Late medieval origins, part floored in the circa late C16, remodelled in
the C17 (probably 1624: datestone) and possibly also extended at this date. C18
pound house added at lower end and higher end wing possibly extended and remodelled
at the same time. Plastered cob and stone rubble; thatched roof with a plain ridge
gabled at ends; rear lateral hall stack, lower end stack (now axial), both with brick
shafts, axial stack to north-east wing.
Plan: Described in detail by Charles Hulland ('Devonshire Farmhouse', V, TDA (1980),
vol. 112, pp 165-168). The present arrangement is L plan: a south facing main range
with a north-east wing at right angles to it. The centre of the main range
originated as an open hall house, lower end to the left (west), hall in the centre
and an inner room at the higher end. The inner room was floored in the circa late
C16, jettying into the hall. Major alterations took place in the C17, the north
porch to the former passage is dated 1624 and the flooring of the hall and addition
of the hall stack and adjoining hall bay are probably also of the same period as is
the flooring of the lower end room and addition of lower end stack. The south end of
the passage was altered to take a stair rising against the front wall with access
from the lower end, the stair blocking any evidence of a south entry to the passage.
Hulland suggests that the north-east wing, consisting of a parlour on the same axis
as the main range and a wine and cider store to the north, is an C18 addition, likely
to be contemporary with the pound house, adjoining the lower end room at the west. A
wide straight stair has been introduced into the old inner room, adjacent to the east
wall of the medieval house. Hulland dates this C19 but it may be earlier, judging
from the doorframes on the first floor that give access to the room over the parlour
in the north-west wing and to the room over the former inner room of the medieval
house. The former inner room has been subdivided into a dairy to the north and
entrance lobby to the south with a probably C19 south porch. The wine and cider
store of the north-east wing have been converted to domestic use.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5 window north elevation, facing the yard. Porch
to former passage to right of centre dated 1624 with the initials HB in the gable.
The outer doorway, converted to a window, preserves a cranked chamfered timber
lintel. To the left of the porch the projecting lateral hall stack and hall bay,
the hall bay with a large blocked window converted to a smaller C19 window. To the
left a plank door leads into the dairy, 2-light C20 window to ground floor left. To
the right of the C17 porch a C20 lean-to with a door into the lower end kitchen, door
and loft door to pound house at right end. 1- and 2-light C19 first floor small
pane casements. The inner return of the north-east wing has a C20 flat-roofed porch
in the angle with the main range, a C20 glazed door in the centre and a 2-light
casement to ground floor left. 2 C19 2-light first floor small pane casements. A
flight of external stone steps against the north end wall of the wing leads up to a
blocked loft door converted to a window. The south elevation of the main range,
facing the road, has a probably C19 gabled porch to the right of centre and a C20 2-
leaf glazed door to the left of the porch. Casement windows, mostly 2- and 3-light
C19 small pane. The east elevation of the wing has ground floor windows only, four
2- and 3-light C19 and C20 casements. The gable end of the pound-house has 2 windows
with C19 brick arches. The ground floor of the pound house was originally open-
fronted and 3 stone pillars survive internally.
Interior: Good survival of high quality features with others likely to be concealed
behind wall plaster. The C17 hall has a fine plank and muntin screen at the higher
end retaining the original doorframe into the inner room. Well-finished joist ends,
chamfered and stopped, support the jetty over the screen which retains a shaped C16
or C17 bench end. The bench has been dressed-off but the remains of the brackets can
be seen and the bench is intact in the hall bay. 4 plastered-over cross beams are
chamfered and probably stopped. There is an C18 cupboard on the south wall with
original hinges. The fireplace is C20 but an earlier lintel exists behind the wall
plaster. The lower end room has a massive fireplace, partly blocked, and a good C17
ovolo-moulded doorframe with decayed stops to the former passage - the doorframe
surprisingly grand for its position. The north porch has been converted to a
bathroom but retains the chamfered timber frame of the inner doorway with a depressed
head. The parlour at the east end of the main range has a C20 fireplace and
plastered-over cross beam. On the first floor a C19 window with margin panes and
coloured glass lights the east end stair and 2 richly carved C17 doors, presumably
re-sited, survive on the first floor of the north-east wing.
Roof: Not inspected at time of survey but described by Hulland. 5 sooted late
medieval trusses with short curved feet, Alcock Type 'E' apexes, mortised collars and
trenched, purlins survive, including the medieval rafters, battens and sooted rye
thatch.
A fine evolved house of medieval origins with good interior features.
Hulland, C. 'Devonshire Farmhouse, V', TDA (1980), vol 12, pp 165-168.
Listing NGR: SS7460623635
