Birdwood House
BIRDWOOD HOUSE, 44, HIGH STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1236352
- Date first listed:
- 25-Mar-1969
- List Entry Name:
- Birdwood House
- Statutory Address:
- BIRDWOOD HOUSE, 44, HIGH STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-09-11
- Reference:
- IOE01/15745/26
- Rights:
- © Mr Robert W Keniston. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1236352
- Date first listed:
- 25-Mar-1969
- List Entry Name:
- Birdwood House
- Statutory Address 1:
- BIRDWOOD HOUSE, 44, HIGH STREET
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:
- BIRDWOOD HOUSE, 44, HIGH STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- South Hams (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Totnes
- National Grid Reference:
- SX 80095 60438
Details
1. 5180 HIGH STREET (South Side) No 44 (Birdwood House) SX 8060 SW 1/56 25.3.69.
II GV
2. Later C16 or early C17 merchant's house of "deux corps de batiments" type, still retaining the little and great courts at the rear. Refronted late C18. The building was formerly known as Somerset House, later as Paynes House. Formerly the residence of the Babbage family and also of William Payne, innkeeper, and mayor in 1707 and 1728 Dr Roger Birdwood, mayor in 1781, 1789 and 1795 also lived here. 3 storeys and central dormer. Symmetrical front with 3 windows. Hipped Welsh slate roof with rendered stacks and projecting eaves with coved cornice. Plastered front still retaining moulded granite corbel of former 1st floor jetty. Flat headed casement dormer with glazing bars. Architraved sash windows with glazing bars. Ground floor 3 bay loggia over pavement carried by granite Tuscan columns bearing entablature. Central doorway with rectangular fanlight and raised and fielded panel door. Interior with late C18 open well staircase to upper floors with carved brackets, turned balusters, octagonal column newels and moulded, ramped handrails. Interior remodelled earlier C19. At rear C16 detached kitchen block connected to house by passage on site of former gallery. Former kitchen block 2 storeys. 1 window. Bitumenised Welsh slate roof. Devonian, random linestone rubble gable wall. Close-studded timber-framed front with chamfered studs and bressumers. Plaster panels. 1st floor with 4 light, mullioned window with ogee mouldings and C19 fenestration. Ground floor with remains of similar 3 light window. At rear of kitchen and connected by passage 3 storey warehouse Welsh slate roof. Devonian limestone rubble gable wall. Slate-hung timber framed front with modern openings. (M Laithwaite).
Listing NGR: SX8009560438
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 427321
- 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 29-Jun-2026 at 03:08:37.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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