West Molland Barton

Details

MOLLAND WEST MOLLAND LANE SS 72 NE 14/97 West Molland Barton (formerly listed as West Molland House) 9.6.52 GV II* Barton, now farmhouse. Circa 1700-20 (attached stable block dated 1723) and early to mid-C18, for the Courtenays, probably incorporating an earlier core. Some minor early C19 and later alterations. Early C18 work of alternate bands of tooled dressed large sandstone (almost of ashlar quality) and smaller dressed sandstone blocks to front (early C19 work at rear of dining room also almost of ashlar quality); other work of squared and coursed sandstone with some more finely-jointed bands, and coursed sandstone rubble. Minor early C19 additions of tooled bordered snecked dressed sandstone. Welsh-slate roofs, hipped to east and over staircase projection to west. Stone stacks. Plan and development: Early C18 front range, facing north, probably based on an earlier 3-room and through-passage plan. Central through passage with dining room to left (probable former service room), and small drawing room and large drawing room to right (probably corresponding to former hall and inner room respectively). Early C18 remodelling included rebuilding of front wall to the right of and including the through passage, the extension of the right-hand room to the rear with staircase projection to right, and the pushing out of rear wall of the dining room to form square room, with large external lateral stack. Probable former C17 range (present service range) adjoining at right angles to left and projecting to rear, of 3 room and through-passage plan facing west, consisting of through passage with scullery and store (former service room) to right and kitchen to left (in position of former hall), with lateral stack to rear (east) and old staircase to its right and with dairy and larder beyond to left (former inner room). North end wall of this range including front wall of dining room (former service room to front range), rebuilt probably in the mid - C18 (see lower eaves and stepped joint to front). Most of the windows (except for 3 on the first floor) of the c.1700 front were blocked in the early to mid-C18, probably because they faced north. Most of the rear wing was probably remodelled also in the C18, and further partly refenestrated (see blocked windows) in the mid-to late C19. Probably late C17 gabled wing projecting at right angles from rear service wing to east, incorporating gable wing wash house on ground floor and probably formerly with chapel in attic; Chapel in attic probably added in the early C18 when eaves raised (see differing masonry in gable end and small arched recess to left of window, probably associated with chapel). Probably C19 lean-to sheds to north and east of chapel wing and small lean-to added in angle of staircase wing in the early C19 (see masonry): The exact development of the house, especially the early period, is not clear, and the layout consisting of what appear to be two former 3-room and through-passage plan ranges joining at right angles is unusual. The front range is probably the earlier (although also the most rebuilt) and probably formerly faced south, the principal elevation moved around to the north only in the early C18. 2 storeys with chapel wing of 2 storeys and attic. Exterior: Asymmetrical north front, with c.1700-20 part to right and later C18 block to left. Right-hand part with coved cornice. Slightly asymmetrical front of 1:4 bays; boxed 18-pane glazing bar sashes of c.1700 (each leaf with 3 panes across and 3 up), with wide glazing bars, crown glass and moulded wooden cornices above frame; c.1700 windows, except for 3 first-floor windows blocked in the early to mid - C18 with dressed sandstone almost of ashlar quality. Inserted first floor mid-C18 12- pane boxed glazing bar sash between first and second blocked windows from right. Probably early C19 4-panelled door to left (lower 2 panels beaded flush, upper 2 raised and fielded) with painted wooden lintel. Doorway reduced in width at some time, probably in the early to mid-C18 (see straight joint to left and lintel projecting further to left). Carved stone coat of arms of the Courtenay family above door between first and second first-floor windows from left, set in recess with banner inscription below (partly illegible at time of survey - August 1987) and stone coving above. Mid - C18 part to left, with cavetto-moulded plinth. 3 bays; mainly 3-light wooden casements with chamfered stone cills dressed stone arches with raised keystones (made up of large blocks of stone with smaller inscribed voussoirs). C18 left-hand ground-floor window with ovolo-moulded mullions and frame and square-leaded lights with stanchions and saddle bars (window lights dairy). Rendered blind first- floor left-hand window, without cill. Central ground-floor window and 2 right-hand first-floor windows are C19 and C20 wooden casements. Right-hand ground-floor window (lighting dining room) is inserted mid - to late C18 sixteen-pane (each leaf with 4 panes along and 2 up) glazing bar sash (note line of reveal of former window in wall to right). Rear of former hall range to left has large external stone stack with chamfered offsets, weathering to chamfered cap and raised stone sundial on shaft with wrought-iron gnomon. First-floor 8-paned horned sash with painted wooden lintel to right of stack (evidence of blocked window to right - see straight joint above doorway), ground-floor small-paned wooden cross window below with stone flat arch, and rear through-passage doorway to right with flat stone-arched head and mid - to late C19 margin light half-glazed door with 3 lower panels. Projecting early C18 (see straight joint in corner to right) front wall of dining room range to right with small hip over left-hand corner and slate hanging to small piece of gable-end to left; large central stone stack with chamfered offsets, weathering and chamfered cap. First-floor and ground-floor boxed 8-pane glazing bar sashes (4 panes to each leaf) to left of stack, that to first floor with wooden lintel and that to ground floor with dressed stone flat arch. C18 gabled wing projecting at right angles at left- hand end: first-floor glazing bar sash with horns (probably replacement of a C18 sash) and C20 lead weathering over wooden lintel. Probably early C20 French casement wih 4-pane glazed upper part and 2 beaded - flush lower panels 2-part rectangular overlight and flanking full height 8-pane glazing bars sashes with horns, and 3-bay flat - roofed wooden porch consisting of tapered square posts with stone pads and moulded capitals, and frieze and cornice above. Stone-flagged floor to porch. Left- hand return front (west) of wing and hall range: Staircase projecting to left has tall probably early C19 8-pane glazing bar sash with margin lights and dressed stone segmental-arched head. Catslide roof over small 1-storey lean-to in angle to right, West front of rear wing. First-floor late C20 boxed 4-pane sash with wooden lintel to left (formerly small paned glazing bar sash of c.1700), ground floor probably early C20 3-light mullioned and transomed wooden casement to left and probably early C20 wooden cross window to right (formerly door - see straight joints below, and also suggestion of straight joint to right, possibly evidence of former window, both with roughly-dressed stone flat-arched heads. Through-passage doorway between ground- floor windows, with C20 boarded door and wooden lintel. C19 doorway to right with boarded door, beaded pegged frame and dressed segmental stone-arched head with chamfered raised keystone. Evidence of earlier fenestration including blocked ground-and first-floor windows to left (partly obscured by later wall in front of dining room - see straight joint in corner), blocked first-floor window above door and possible further blocked window to its right. Gable end to front has 16-pane glazing bar sash (each leaf with 4 panes along and 2 up) with wooden lintel. Rear (east) of service wing: Internal lateral stack with weatherings. That part to right of chapel wing has first floor C19 4-pane sash to left with brick segmental-arched head, first-floor 2-light wooden casement to right with stone flat-arched head, and ground-floor C19 3-light wooden casement to right (lighting dairy) with leaded square panes, stanchions and saddle bars, wrought-iron bars to opening lights and stone flat-arched head. That part to left of chapel wing with ground-floor window to left. Chapel wing projecting to east of service range. Gable end to front has 2-light wooden attic casement with brick segmental-arched head and probably C17 round-arched chamfered recess to left of window with hoodmould, possibly formerly returned. Left- hand (south) side has first-floor small paned 3-light wooden casement with wooden lintel and small ground-floor 2-light wooden casement also with wooden lintel. Right-hand (north) side has ground-floor boarded door to right with wooden lintel; ground-floor lean-to in front has 3 doorways with brick dressings and brick segmental heads. Lean-to returns to gable end with stone segmental-arched doorways. Wing formerly with external stack in corner with service range, to north-west (see rendered area). Cobbled entrance courtyard to north. Interior: Through passage with reused C18 panelling and C18 stone-flagged floor, which has geometrical pattern, consisting of large white stone flags with smaller square black stones at corners. Small drawing room to right (former hall) has early C18 bolection-moulded panelling with moulded dado rail. Early C18 chimney-piece to rear wall, consisting of moulded architrave with marble slip, and overmantel above consisting of bolection-moulded panel with raised and fielded centre, flanking pilasters with raised and fielded panelling, and moulded cornice above. Window to left of fireplace with panelled inner reveals. 2 mid-C18 cupboards in front wall (blocked former windows), each with 2 doors of 3 raised and fielded panels. Drawing room to far right: Bolection-moulded panelling (raised centre to each panel), tall panels above and low panels below, with moulded dado rail and moulded cornice. Later fireplace with moulded architrave and parts of reused bolection panelling and overmantel with raised panel and flanking pilasters with raised and fielded panels. Two mid - C18 cupboards in front wall (blocked former windows), each with 2 doors of 3 raised and fielded panels. Wide double doors in right-hand wall leading to staircase, each with 3 bolection-moulded panels. Early C18 3-flight square-well staircase with landings, open string with moulded nosings, turned balusters (2 per tread) and swept handrail wreathed to foot newel. C18 five-panelled door under stairs. C18 archway at top of stairs with flanking pilasters, moulded cornices and round arch with key block. Dining room to left of through passage with C18 five- panelled door and C18 cupboard with raised and fielded panels. Dairy with low slate shelves, barred windows and wooden screen between dairy and adjoining larder, with slats above. Kitchen with probably early C17 plastered deep-chamfered cross beam (further similar cross beams in rear wing), and former servants' bells. Old staircase off from kitchen adjacent to stack. First-floor rooms to front range have early C18 five-panelled doors (large upper and lower raised and fielded panels and 2 small raised and fielded panels to centre) with moulded architraves. Bedroom over small drawing room (former hall) has early C18 raised and fielded panelling with moulded dado rail and moulded cornice; the central panel of each wall breaks forward. Five-panelled doors. Fireplace to rear with early C18 bolection-moulded architrave and C19 cast-iron grate with tiled reveals. Window to left of fireplace with panelled shutters and window seat with opening top, which has H-hinges with shaped ends. Front windows with window seats too. Dressing room to left (over through passage) with early C18 raised and fielded panelling, and panelled window seat with lift-up top. C18 cupboards along right-and left-hand side walls, consisting of doors with raised and fielded panels, some with small-paned glazed top parts, and H- hinges, some with shaped ends. One large cupboard with H-L hinges. Principal bedroom in rear wing has C18 door with 6 raised and fielded panels and H-hinges and rear room with C18 2-panelled door. C18 stairs from principal bedroom in rear wing up to putative chapel in attic, with windows at foot, C19 moulded handrail and door at foot. C18 roofs, that over front range in 2 phases. Right-hand end of roof (c.1700-20) of 6 bays, with trusses consisting of principal rafters with corbelled and pegged mortice and tenoned apices and pegged collars, and 2 pairs of staggered purlins. Left-hand end of roof (mid-C18) of 5 bays with trusses consisting of principal rafters and tie-beams, and 3 pairs of purlins. Servants' bell wire. Plastered stud wall dividing each part of front roof. 3-bay roof over rear wing with trusses consisting of principal rafters and pegged lapped collars. 2-bay roof over chapel wing with trusses consisting of principal rafters and lapped collars. C18 2-panelled door from probable former chapel on attic room into roofspace over rear wing, with H- L hinges and moulded architrave. Old floorboards in first-floor and attic rooms. West Molland Barton was the family home of the catholic Courtenay family until 1748, which would explain the possibility of a private chapel. It was for the Courtenays that the early C18 remodelling was carried out. Although with earlier origins the building is a fine example of an early C18 farmhouse, especially notable for its contemporary interiors.

Listing NGR: SS7932428478

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