Bremley Farmhouse and Adjoining Outbuildings

Details

MOLLAND SS 8028-8128 20/46 Bremley Farmhouse and - adjoining outbuildings II Farmhouse. Circa 1500, altered in the early to mid-C17, with C18 and late C18 early C19 additions, and minor mid-to late C19 alterations and additions. Rendered, probably over stone rubble and cob; early C18 addition in partly rendered cob over stone rubble. Later C18 and early C19 additions mainly of coursed rubble under some cob. Gable-ended scantle-slate roof, hipped slate roof over addition to rear and corrugated-asbestos monopitch roof over outbuilding. Stone square lateral and end stacks with weatherings, 2 rendered. Plan and development: 4 room and through-passage plan, facing south. Ground falls to left. Late-Medieval open hall consisting of hall with inner room (present kitchen) to right and through passage (probably altered in the late C19) to left with service room beyond, and second service room to far left. Formerly open to the roof, continuously from end to end, with rooms probably divided by low partitions. The extra lower room is unusual in a Medieval farmhouse in Devon. It appears to have been part of the original plan (see smoke-blackened roof above), although it might have been extended at a later date. C17 alterations included the insertion of the first floor, and the addition of external stacks to the rear of the hall and first service room, external end stack-to the lower service room, and integral end stack (possibly later than the C17) to the inner room, since truncated (see straight joints in gable end). Other C17 alterations probably included the insertion of the staircase in the cross passage (the present stair appears to be C19) and the raising of the eaves. Probably early C18 wing added to rear of lower service room and dairy wing added at rear of inner room, probably in the mid-to late C18. Late C18 or early C19 outbuildings (probably altered in the late C19) between the ends of the two rear wings forming a service courtyard. Small lean-to addition in north-west angle of lower service room and rear wing. 2 storeys, with additions of 1-storey and 1-storey and attic (dairy wing). Exterior: Approximately symmetrical front with 5 first-floor windows, C20 2-light wooden casements, and 3 ground floor windows, late C19 2-and 3-light small-paned wooden casements. Former cross passage doorway to centre has C19 6-panelled door (2 upper panels glazed) with chamfered wooden frame and C20 gabled lattice wooden porch. C20 boarded door to far right with 4 glazed panels to top. Rear stacks with chamfered offsets. Wing at rear of left hand end with boarded door to rear and boarded door to lean-to in angle to west. Dairy wing with C18 first-floor leaded wooden casement. Wing enclosing courtyard to rear has 2-light window with wrought- iron bars in east end and 2-light leaded wooden casement in west end. Interior: Remodelled in the mid-to late C19. Hall with spine beam and blocked large old fireplace to rear. 1-shaped bench along front wall only. Former servants' bells. Four old boarded doors off hall. Former service room to left has large old fireplace to rear with tiled reveals and front window with jambs continuing to floor level. Entrance hall with C19 tiled floor and staircase with C19 balustrade. C19 four- panelled doors throughout. 5-bay roof with substantial remains of late-Medieval smoke-blackened construction including trusses at upper and lower ends of hall, probably jointed crucks (see line of trusses on walls in bedroom over hall), each with cambered collar and mortice and tenoned apex. Left-hand hall truss with unblackened plaster in roof space up to collar - level on lower side (probably revealed due to later lowering of the ceiling). Truss at right hand end of hall with evidence of former wattle and daub panel (see on top of collar and stove holes in underside of each blade). Truss between service room and lower service room probably replaces a Medieval truss (see smoke blackened ridge-piece above). Blackened hip cruck at right-hand end. Trenched purlins, still in situ over hall (only the top pair of purlins visible in roofspace). Diagonally-set blackened ridge piece, in situ over hall and inner room and over service end, sawn off over central bay. Pegged scarf joint in ridge piece to left of truss at lower end of service room but that section formerly over the lower service room has been sawn off. Some smoke-blackened rafters in left-hand bay. Late-C20 roof structure over old roof. This house is notable among late-Medieval houses in the area because of its extra lower room.

Listing NGR: SS8184328150

Legacy

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Legacy System number:

397875

Legacy System:

LBS

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