Gretal Cottage the Towan House

GRETAL COTTAGE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1171063
Date first listed:
30-Jun-1961
List Entry Name:
Gretal Cottage the Towan House
Statutory Address:
GRETAL COTTAGE

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Location

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Date:
2003-03-12
Reference:
IOE01/09657/17
Rights:
© Mr Terence Harper. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1171063
Date first listed:
30-Jun-1961
List Entry Name:
Gretal Cottage the Towan House
Statutory Address 1:
GRETAL COTTAGE
Statutory Address 2:
THE TOWAN HOUSE

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
GRETAL COTTAGE
Statutory Address:
THE TOWAN HOUSE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Devon
District:
East Devon (District Authority)
Parish:
Poltimore
National Grid Reference:
SX 96491 96934

Details

SX 99 NE POLTIMORE POLTIMORE

5/158 The Towan House and - Gretal Cottage 30.6.61 - II

House and outbuilding now 2 houses. Mid C17 with later modifications. Cob, stone plinth, rendered; hipped and half hipped wheat reed thatched roof to the Towan House, 2 storeys, and Gretal Cottage, single storeyed. The Towan House probably originally a 3 room, cross-passage plan; Gretal Cottage possibly a former farmbuilding attached to the present Towan House. Internal right-hand end stack and rear external stack, both with brick shafts. Front: The Towan House with scattered fenestration; planked door with moulded surround under C19 slate, gabled, boarded porch supported by shaped struts; large stair-turret bulge to left with single-light window now deeply inset; two 2-light windows to first floor, 1 single-light and one 2-light window to ground floor. All timber casements, C20. Gretal Cottage with planked door under C19 slate-roofed porch supported by timber posts; to the left a 3-light window with 10 leaded panes to each light, and retaining its ring catch, all C18. 2-light C20 casement window to right. Rear of The Towan House with three 2-light windows above, 2 below; one entrance, 3 buttresses. C20 right-hand lean-to extension. Interior: The Towan House : left-hand room with chamfered beam and fireplace with timber lintel, chamfered with scroll stop, stone jambs, and back with remains of oven; lath and plaster screen divides this from the adjoining room (Hall) which has a beam morticed to receive tenons of a screen now destroyed. Staircase insitu. Coat of arms dated 1666 (possibly 1686). Roof: visible only from upper rooms : 3 principals, trenched purlins, collar side pegged and morticed. Raised floor level between Hall and adjoining rooms. One door with fielded panels. Gretal Cottage roof of 2 principals, one reinforced.

Listing NGR: SX9649196934

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
88471
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Gretal Cottage the Towan House

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 20-Jun-2026 at 07:42:54.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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