The Infirmary

Details

BUCKLAND MONACHORUM BUCKLAND ABBEY
SK 46 NE
3/46 The Infirmary

GV II*

Outbuilding, reputedly originally the infirmary to Buckland Abbey but its distance
from the Abbey building makes this unlikely; from its position the other side of the
tithe barn it is possible that it originally provided accommodation for the lay
brothers or was the guest-house. Probably later C15 on the evidence of the roof
trusses and earlier doorways and windows but considerably altered during the C16 and
C17 if all the features are original to the building, the possibility of some of the
features having been re-used makes specific dating difficult. Probably during the
C17 the building was relegated to agricultural purposes for which it is still used.
Stone rubble walls with granite dressings; gable ended slate roof. 2 rubble stacks,
one axial to the right and are at left gable end.
Ground floor plan now 2 long rooms divided by chimney stack; original plan unclear
probably much altered by change of use. The lack of smoke-blackening on the roof
timbers suggests that the chimney stacks are original and it is likely that the
building was always 2 storeys although no trace of the original stairs can be seen.
The granite framed window slits suggest use as a barn but the quality of the
medieval windows and some of the doorways make it unlikely to have been converted
from a barn into a dwelling. The exact development of the plan and use of this
building is, however, difficult to assess as it incorporates features from a number
of different periods some of which may have originated in abbey buildings now
demolished. The small rooms at either end are clearly additions, each with external
access, whose purpose is unclear. The left-hand one is circa early C16, the right-
hand one C17. Later C20 addition at rear of left-hand side.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 10 bay, 6 window, front, divided irregularly by ashlar
buttresses with set-offs. The long facade incorporates an extraordinary array of
pre-C18 windows of different styles. The earliest is a C15 2-light granite mullion
with cinquefoiled heads in the left-hand bay on the ground floor. The other windows
are mainly 2-light granite mullions with square heads or granite framed slits apart
from a few later insertions. There are also some re-used doorways on the 1st floor.
There are 3 ground floor granite arched doorways. The left-hand one is the earliest
- probably contemporary with the C15 window and richly moulded with pointed arch.
To left of centre is a wide 4-centred arched doorway and to right of centre is a
similar narrower doorway. Each of the end extensions has a similar doorway and
mullion windows. At the rear a C20 lean-to has been added against the right-hand
side. To its left on the 1st floor is a blocked 4-centred arched granite doorway.
Beyond it on the ground floor is a C16 moulded 3-light granite mullion window whose
hoodmould carries the arms of Grenville and his wife in the labels. 2 more granite
framed windows to the left.
Interior: The original roof trusses survive and consist of upper crucks with
trenched purlins and morticed cranked collars, all clean. They have had tie-beams
an struts inserted probably in the early C20. In the middle of the building is an
axial stack which has been cut off at the top and has chamfered and stopped granite
jambs to a fireplace on the ground floor with a replaced lintel. The fireplace at
the right-hand end of the principal room has a segmental stone arch with chamfered
voussoirs, now partially blocked. A longitudinal beam at this end is chamfered with
ogee stops.


Listing NGR: SX4881866789

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

92639

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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