Moorstone Barton

Details

HALBERTON ST 00 NW 5/165 - Moorstone Barton 5.4.66 GV I Farmhouse. Mid C14 range built probably by Walter Ganson, with C15 cross-wings, that to the north (right-hand side) demolished. Cob, stone footings, plastered, under gabled-end wheatreed thatched roofs. The earlier (main) range conforms to the traditional 3-room, through-passage plan, the higher end to the left of the passage, and is heavily smoke-blackened throughout. The C15 higher end or solar wing was of 2 storeys from its inception and heated by a stone external lateral stack, now with a small brick shaft. 2 storeys throughout. Front: 3 window range, 3-light casement windows to 1st floor, the 2 to the left under eyebrow eaves, all with leaded panes, 12- or 15- per light. The lower end 1st floor window is at a markedly lower level than the others. Ground floor: 6-light casement window to Hall, 10-leaded panes per light, and a 3- light casement window to the right of the passage, 12 leaded panes per light. Inner face of solar wing with one large 3-light window to each floor, with leaded lights. Front of wing with blocked windows (see description of interior). Left-hand side elevation: 2 old 3-light windows, chamfered jambs and mullions, 12-leaded panes to outer light. The other windows appear to be C20. Rear: main range with two 1st floor windows, one of 2-lights, 8-leaded panes per light; one ground floor opening to left of passage. The line of the solar wing was extended to the rear in the C19 with 3-light windows under a slate gabled-end roof. The rear yard buildings are also C19, rubble with brick dressing. Interior: One chamfered doorway arch survives in main range, probably not in situ. Solar wing with one blocked 2-light C15 window to each floor at front end, wide lights cinquefoil-headed and similar to late C15 east-Devon church window tracery. Another medieval window, earlier, probably C14, a trefoil-headed lancet made from a single block of wood, was found by Mr J R L Thorp lying in the roof space; its original location is not known. The house is especially important for its medieval roof; main range of 4 bays, all heavily sooted: 2 bays to the Hall. The trusses are base jointed arches with chamfered arched braces, threaded purlins, cranked tie beams with angle struts, squared wall plates, crown post with diagonal curved struts, straight collar with collar purlin. Apex morticed and pegged with no ridge piece. The arched braces to the Hall rest on carved head corbels. One of 2 former central bosses survives, with vine leaves and grapes. The trusses are closed above the tie beam at either end of the hall, and a smoke-window has been pushed through one of them. The spere between Hall and service-end differs in its bracing, which takes the form of a steeply profiled arch. The service-end is less heavily sooted than the other 3 bays. Solar wing roof, 4 jointed arches, morticed and pegged at apex, cranked collars, paired threaded purlins and a complete set of coeval rafters; all clean. Historical note: Dr Alcock believes that the roof of the main range is mid C14, possibly as early as the 1340s, for it has some stylistic affinities with the court style of that decade. The Ganson family had connections with the court - William was a yeoman of the chamber of Edward III and held various west country posts as a result of his attachment to the court circle. By the turn of the C15 the Gansons were a prominent local gentry family, holding positions of some importance and making marriage alliances with other leading families such as the Walronds of Bradfield. John Walrond was married to a daughter of John Ganson in the private chapel of Moorstone in 1449 (Devon & Cornwall Record Society, new series, Register of Edmund Lacy... Vol.III, 34, 112). It was possibly this John Walrond (or his son, another John) who built the solar wing.

Listing NGR: ST0160009916

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

95352

Legacy System:

LBS

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