Details
ST 00 SW
8/66
5.4.66
CULLOMPTON
Langford Court
II*
Large house, now 2 dwellings. Early C16, remodelled and enlarged in the C17. Cob,
stone plinth, plastered, under gabled end thatched roofs. The present house is an
informal courtyard in plan, although there is no evidence to suggest that it
originated as such. The present main front and the right-hand wing are the oldest
parts, formerly a 3-room, through-passage plan with a long service wing (containing 7
jointed crucks); both these ranges show evidence of smoke-blackening: the wing is
heavily sooted at the far end and this possibly marks the early kitchen area; sooting
becomes progressively lighter towards the front of the wing suggesting that there was
1 open hearth and a series of low internal partitions. The front range was
completely re-roofed in the C19, but the cob wall dividing it from the left-hand wing
(presumably a former end wall) is heavily soot blackened. The left-hand wing is
early C17 and contemporary with the general re-fenestration scheme and the 2-storeyed
front porch; it probably functioned as the main range for it contains the best
staircase, and a hall with an unusual common rafter arch-braced roof. The 4th side
is much later, externally completely C19, but it could contain an older core.
Exterior: Front (E) elevation: asymmetrical 6-window range, the facade re-ordered in
the C17 and clearly designed to impress; outer window bays representing the front
faces of the side wings are separately gabled with C19 wavy bargeboarding: identical,
with 4-light casement window to both floors, all frames and mullions ovolo moulded;
2-storeyed thatched porch stands right of centre marking entrance to cross passage:
C19 wavy bargeboarding incorporates 1 C17 pendant; upper storey with close studding
and a 3-light ovolo moulded oriel on 4 concave brackets; porch outer doorway frame
with cyma recta moulding; inner doorway (recessed slightly behind the line of the
front wall) with cyma recta moulded surround set in a wide architrave with concave
moulding; early C18 panelled door. 5-light window to left and right of porch to
ground floor, 4-light windows above; 2-light windows to both floors to the right of
the left-hand wing front gable, a little to one side of the former end wall of main
range (see above); all casement windows, barred, with ovolo moulding. Double brick
shafts to stacks at junctions of range and wings.
Right-hand (N) elevation: asymmetrical 6-window range, the thatched roof eaves line
over rear storage area brought well down and supported on diagonal struts. End stack
and 2 lateral stack, 1 of which is external with 2 set-offs, all with brick shafts.
All windows C19 of 2 and 5 lights. C20 leanto under corrugated iron roof.
Left-hand (S) elevation: Scattered fenestration, one 2-light and four 4-light
casement windows to 1st floor, similar to ground floor (the 2-light window C20); one
3-light window set between floors to stairhall; all C17 windows with ovolo moulded
surrounds and mullions. Porch, timber, steep gable with fascia, slated. Axial stack
with double brick shaft.
Rear elevation (W) C19, slate roof; 2- and 4-light casement windows.
Inner elevations: mostly C19 windows, but 2 older windows to north range, 1 of 3-
lights with chamfered surround and mullions, another of 2-lights, massive chamfered
mullion, 1 light only with 8 leaded panes.
Interior: North wing: 5 rooms; Massive end fireplace with chamfered lintel and
bressumer above; chambered unstopped beam to this room; remains of a through-passage
between this service room and a room now serving as a kitchen; the passage has 2
cross beams, and has been reorganised by the insertion of a brick larder. Main room
heated by external stack with big chamfered beam; tile fireplace largely rebuilt; 2
cross beams, chamfered to front room of wing.
Roof: 7 jointed crucks, morticed and pegged at apex, cranked collars, morticed and
pegged; 2 sets of trenched purlins; smoke blackening heaviest at rear end, with some
sooted rafters.
Main (E) range: Widened and re-roofed in C19; main room with 2 axial, chamfered,
unstopped beams; the porch gives into a wide cross passage.
South wing: 3 rooms, entrance and stair hall; the latter with 2 cross beams with
scroll stops; remains of C17 stair, 2 turned newel posts and some turned balusters;
C17 panelling survives with cyma recta moulding; middle room (hall?) fireplace with
composite moulded stone jambs; (ovolo, cyma reversa with fillet) and big moulded
stops; C19 rear lean-to but the ovolo moulded wall plate visible internally. Upper
room to front of wing with C18 or early-C19 panelling; in a recess to one side of
the large stack, presumably external to the smoke blackened former end wall of main
(east) range (see above), are fragments of C17 panelling visible only from the roof
space.
Roof: trusses, all clean, collars halved and pegged, except over the middle room
(hall?) where the roof construction is unusual : 2 jointed crucks to each end of a
common rafter roof, each of the 14 common rafters set 18" apart with collar and
arched brace, the latter attached to collar by old iron nails; no evidence of its
having supported a plaster ceiling, although it may originally have been intended so
to do.
Listing NGR: ST0320602570
