Slew House, Shown As Slough on the OS Map

Details

SS 72 SW BISHOP'S NYMPTON

5/26 Slew House, shown as Slough on the - the OS map

II

Former farmhouse. Late medieval origins with late C18 and early C19 remodelling. Rendered cob on stone rubble footings; slate roof to the front of the ridge, corrugated asbestos to the rear (formerly thatched), gabled at ends; end stacks and an axial stack, projecting rear lateral stack with a C19 brick shaft. Plan: Approximately T plan: a single depth south-facing main range, 4 rooms wide, with 1 room plan wings adjoining at the front and rear left (west). The house originated as a late medieval open hall which extended from the left (west) end of the main range for at least 3 bays. Refurbishment and remodelling of the C18 and C19 has obscured any visible evidence of the C17, thus the date at which the open hall house was floored remains conjectural and although the present plan includes 2 entrances on the south side, both into passages with stairs, it is not clear whether either of these correspond to a late C16 or C17 through or cross passage. The roof over the left (west) end room appears to have been rebuilt and raised in the C18, re- using some sooted medieval timbers and a Georgian recess and 2-panel doors indicates considerable refurbishment at this date, the left hand room probably functioning as the kitchen. The two left hand wings, front and rear, are probably early C19, a breakfast or morning room to the front and a large dairy to the rear. A heated service room at the extreme right (east) end of the range is probably a C19 addition, with access to the kitchen and dairy via the rear outshut which has since been divided into smaller rooms. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 6-bay front with 2 C20 doors, one into a passage containing the stair to left of centre, one into a passage adjacent to a second stair to right of centre; between these doors 2 early C19 French windows with margin glazing. The 2 windows on the inner return of the front left wing and 2 first and 1 ground floor window at the left end of the main range are C19 timber sashes, all the other windows are C20 timber casements. Interior: No exposed carpentry. The left hand room has an open fireplace with a timber lintel, the chamfer and stops are 1980s. The parlour, to the right of the kitchen, has a Georgian segmental arched wall recess. There is a good set of C18 2- panel doors, including a wide door at the rear of the right hand passage. Roof: 3-bays of a late medieval smoke-blackened roof survive, including 2 main trusses, with a diagonally-set ridge, mortised collars and trenched purlins. The roof formerly extended over the left hand bay of the house but has been rebuilt in the C18 re-using medieval sooted purlins and some rafters and battens. The smoke- blackened roof does not extend over the second room from the left but this end of the roof was not inspected at time of survey and it was not clear whether it originally extended further to the east than at present. An unexplained feature of the roof is a heavily sooted section of timber of large scantling above the purlin pegged on to the back of the rafters to the rear of the ridge. This may have been connected with smoke escape during the open hall phase of the house. The kitchen range from Slew House is now in the South Molton museum (information from owner). A traditional house of medieval origins.

Listing NGR: SS7489524538

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

97552

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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