Details
SS 81 SE CRUWYS MORCHARD NORTHCOTE LANE
2/89 Ford Barton
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II
Former farmhouse. Circa early C16, remodelled circa early C17 with an extension and
re-arrangement of the late C17, some C19 refurbishment and late C19/C20 re-roofing.
Roughcast, probably cob and stone ; slate roof, gabled at ends ; end stacks and axial
stack, all with brick shafts.
Plan: The present plan is single depth, 4 rooms wide with an entrance to right of
centre, facing a straight stair. The evolution of the house is complex. It began as
a late medieval open hall possibly extending the full length of the present 3 right
hand rooms (lower end to the right) although there may have been some rebuilding at
the right end. The house was floored in the circa late C16/early C17 and the hall
stack added, backing on to a cross or through passage. A rounded wall suggests that
there may have been a newel stair in the rear right corner of the inner (left hand)
room. The next phase, late C17, involved the addition of a kitchen at the left end,
adjoining the inner room which was partitioned off at the rear, forming a rear axial
passage between the new kitchen and the early C17 hall. This turned the inner room
into an unheated dairy between the kitchen and the early C17 hall ; the lower end
(right hand) room may have been used as a best parlour. Either in the C18 or C19 a
straight stair was inserted in the old cross or through passage and a second stair
was inserted between the inner room and early C17 hall, this stair reached from the
axial corridor. In the circa mid/late C19 the lower end, which is larger than the
hall, was re-floored and refurbished and clearly used as a parlour/sitting room.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5 window front with front door to former passage to right of
centre. 2-light circa early C19 small pane timber casements except for the window
lighting the C17 hall which is a similar 3-light window, and first floor window left
which is late C20. Lean-to adjoins at left end, further lean-to on front at left.
The rear elevation has irregular fenestration with 3 first floor and 3 ground floor
windows.
Interior features from each phase of the evolution of the house survive. Of the late
medieval open hall house 2 smoke-blackened trusses with the remains of a diagonally-
set ridge and some rafters and battens exist below a later roof structure. The
principal rafters, plastered over in the first floor rooms, are probably jointed
crucks. Of the circa early C17 phase 2 chamfered axial beams with pyramid stops
remain in the early C17 hall. The hall fireplace has a C20 grate but this may
conceal the early C17 fireplace. A chamfered axial beam in the former inner room may
also date from the early C17. The kitchen,, at the left end, has a circa late C17
roughly-chamfered cross beam with step stops and although the fireplace has been
blocked, an early lintel clearly survives beneath later wall and plaster. The lower
end room has a C19 cross beam and a marbled chimneypiece. The first floor rooms open
into one another but are partitioned-off at the rear forming large closets.
An interesting house of late medieval origins with a long building history still
evident in the interior features and an attractive front elevation.
Ford Barton is part of the Cruwys Estate and may be the "Ford" described as being
first documented in the C14, Cruwys, Margaret C.S., A Cruwys Morchard Notebook, 1066-
l874 (1939).
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
437861
Legacy System:
LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official list entry
