The Old Almshouses
1, 2 AND 3, THE OLD ALMSHOUSES, CHERITON FITZPAINE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1170569
- Date first listed:
- 04-Nov-1985
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Almshouses
- Statutory Address:
- 1, 2 AND 3, THE OLD ALMSHOUSES, CHERITON FITZPAINE
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Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-07-06
- Reference:
- IOE01/07867/05
- Rights:
- © Jenny Johns. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1170569
- Date first listed:
- 04-Nov-1985
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Almshouses
- Statutory Address 1:
- 1, 2 AND 3, THE OLD ALMSHOUSES, CHERITON FITZPAINE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- 1, 2 AND 3, THE OLD ALMSHOUSES, CHERITON FITZPAINE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- Mid Devon (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Cheriton Fitzpaine
- National Grid Reference:
- SS 87108 06228
Details
SS 80 NE
7/29
CHERITON FITZPAINE
Nos. 1, 2 and 3 The Old Almshouses
(Formerly listed as Nos.1-5)
GV
II*
Three houses, formerly five almshouses. Original 4 are probably early C17 (Pevsner claims 1594 and Mercer reckons second half of C17), the fifth dated 1853, renovated circa 1970.
Plastered cob on exposed rubble footings to first floor level on low chamfered plinth; exposed volcanic stacks with blocks laid to rough courses and with chimney shafts of plastered brick; thatched roof. Originally a row of four one-room plan almshouses facing north-west and C19 one-room plan almshouse added to left (north-east) end. Each original almshouse has a front-projecting lateral stack with the site of the front door to left and back door opposite. The C19 addition was built in the same style but the doorway is placed right of the front-projecting lateral stack.
No. 1 at left (north-east) end now includes the C19 almshouse and the left of the original almshouses. No. 2 occupies the single original adjoining to the right and No. 3 takes the right (south-west) pair of originals. Two storeys. Overall five-window front of circa 1970 casements with glazing bars interrupted by the five stacks. The original stacks are not identical but all have a drip course at eaves level and the left-hand three have moulded volcanic coping under the C19 brick shafts. The C19 left end stack is built in the same style and includes a small Beer stone date plaque inscribed 1853 near the top. Although original disposition of doorways has been altered the blocked two show with straight joins below circa 1970 windows. Many of the casements replaced original mullioned windows with leaded glass.
Interior. Cob party walls but knocked through to create large ground floor rooms in Nos. 1 and 3. Plain carpentry detail to 1853 build. Originals all have oak axial beam with halved beams along front and rear walls. They are chamfered with late step stops. Fireplaces in front wall. No. 2 is volcanic ashlar with oak lintel and ovolo-moulded surround. No. 3 has two fireplaces, centre-wards almshouse has plain volcanic sides and ovolo-moulded oak lintel and end almshouse has volcanic ashlar hooded fireplace with ovolo-moulded surround (the oak lintel is mutilated). The latter has a stone oven in the centre of the pentan. Roof of purlins between cob crosswalls.
Well-preserved and very attractive row of almshouses.
Sources. E Mercer English Vernacular Houses 1975 pp. 148-9 Pl. 99
.
Extensive pre-renovation photographic coverage in National Monuments Record.
Listing NGR: SS8710806228
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 96481
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Mercer, Eric, English Vernacular Houses, (1975), 148-9
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 15-Jun-2026 at 13:43:35.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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