Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 24/02/2012
SX 77 SW
6/236
WIDECOMBE-IN-THE-MOOR
LOWER TOWN
Cressen Hayes and Little Cressen Hayes
II*
House; the north end has been divided off as a separate cottage. Early C16 with
minor C19 and C20 additions on the east and west sides; upper (south) end of main
range rebuilt in C19. Granite rubble; west gable-wall of wing covered with
roughcast. Roof covered with real slates, except for the north end of main range
which has asbestos slates; south end of main range is hipped. 3 large stone
chimneystacks on main range: plain stack with slate weatherings on north gable,
better quality stack with granite weatherings on north gable, better-quality stack
with granite weatherings and tapered top in centre of ridge (heating former hall),
and rendered stack, probably of C19, on west wall at the south end. West gable of
wing has a plain stone stack with slate weatherings, very like that on north stack
backing on to passage. Wing on west side, at right-angles to hall and inner room;
it appears to be contemporary with the main range, but its outer walls could just be
the remnant of an earlier structure. Plan is unusual in having had a long inner
room (at south end) now reduced in size to insert an entrance-lobby next to the
hall. Lower room (at north end) had a fireplace, but does not appear to have been a
kitchen, since it has no oven; even the oven in the hall fireplace looks like a
later insertion, and it may be that the house originally had a detached kitchen.
The ground-storey room of the wing was clearly a parlour. 2 storeys; additions
single-storeyed. Main range has 7-window front to the east. Original doorway, off-
centre to right, has a chamfered granite surround with a shallow segmental arch.
Hall has a 3-light granite window, also original except for the mullions; the
lights, which are recessed within a moulded rectangular frame, have hollow-moulded,
almost rounded arches, with sunk spandrels. Above it and to right in the second
storey are 2 original single-light windows with hollow-moulded granite surrounds,
the larger left-hand window having a very slightly rounded head. The remaining
windows at the hall and inner room end (to left) have C19 wooden casements with
glazing-bars, except for a C20 window at the left end of the ground storey. To
right of this is another doorway, probably a C19 insertion. The lower end (to
right) has largely been rebuilt, rather clumsily, following a collapse; the windows
have C20 metal casements. Against its right-hand end is an added stone lean-to, now
belonging to the adjoining house. On the west side the through-passage doorway has
an original granite surround matching that on the east side. Above it and to right,
next to the wing, is a single-light original window with chamfered granite surround
and very slightly rounded head. At the extreme left-hand end (to the north) the
wall has been built out slightly, probably to insert a staircase. Against the west
gable-wall of the wing is a double flight of granite steps, probably added in C19;
they formerly led to a second-storey doorway, now blocked and converted into a
window.
Interiors: The hall has chamfered upper-floor beams with step-stops, the joists
having bar-stops. The half-beam at the upper (south) end has substantial remains of
painting, probably of C16, a design of scrolls and foliage; it was apparently white
on black originally, but a light red undercoat now predominates. At the opposite
end of the room the fireplace has hollow-moulded granite jambs and lintel; at the
back is an oven with a stone-framed opening, probably a later insertion. The upper
floor joists over the through-passage have been mutilated to insert a staircase;
those that survive match the joists in the hall. In the stone south wall is the
former doorway into the hall (now blocked); it has a chamfered and stopped wood
lintel. The north wall is also of stone, but only on the ground storey (the upper
storey has been remodelled in C20. At the east end is a large opening, partly
blocked with stone, having a chamfered and stopped wood lintel; beneath it is a
pair of cranked wooden door-heads. The lower room to the north of this has
chamfered upper-floor beams and joists with step-stops. Some of the joists are
clearly re-used, being either plain, or chamfered with diagonal-cut stops. The
large gable-fireplace has an apparently re-used chamfered wood lintel. To left of
it was formerly a stone staircase, probably a later insertion. The fireplace
appears to be an original feature, since it has a step-stopped half-beam against it.
The wing has moulded upper-floor beams and joists; these have some irregular
features, but are almost certainly in their original position. The beams have 2
three-quarter-round mouldings with a hollow between them, while the joists have 1
three-quarter-round and an ogee; both beams and joists have run-out stops. The
gable-fireplace has a hollow-moulded granite lintel and left jamb; the right jamb
has been replaced by a short projecting wall, probably dating from the time when the
room was used as a carpenter's shop. On the left side of the fireplace is an
original staircase with winding stone steps. In the opposite (east) wall is a
blocked doorway, formerly leading into the hall, with a chamfered wood lintel having
step-stops. In the north wall is a blocked window with splayed jambs; flanking it
internally are 2 pieces of moulded stone, possibly re-used, that do not rise the
full height of the window. The upper storey has no exposed features except for the
feet of the roof-trusses; the original trusses survive complete over the wing but
are missing at either end of the main range. They are closely similar jointed
crucks, side-pegged and with threaded purlins but no ridge; the wing trusses have
lost their collars, but at least one cambered collar remains in the main range. All
the trusses are unblackened.
The house was clearly of higher status than a farmhouse. It is said to have been
built for the priest of St Leonard's Chapel, Spitchwick, but there seems to be no
evidence of this or even that the chapel still existed in the early C16.
Source: information from Miss E Gawne.
Listing NGR: SX7111172868
