25-28 Free Cottages
25-28 FREE COTTAGES, MOUNT DINHAM
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1380574
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jun-2000
- List Entry Name:
- 25-28 Free Cottages
- Statutory Address:
- 25-28 FREE COTTAGES, MOUNT DINHAM
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Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-07-11
- Reference:
- IOE01/16661/33
- Rights:
- © Mr David Withey. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1380574
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jun-2000
- List Entry Name:
- 25-28 Free Cottages
- Statutory Address 1:
- 25-28 FREE COTTAGES, MOUNT DINHAM
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- 25-28 FREE COTTAGES, MOUNT DINHAM
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- Exeter (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SX9151392671
Details
SX 99 SW
871/2/10082
23-JUN-00
MOUNT DINHAM
25-28 Free Cottages
GV
II
Block of 4 cottages, part of a group of free cottages comprising 42 units for the elderly & funded by William Gibbs 1862. Addition of the c.1950s not included in the listing. Red brick with painted stone dressings; slate roofs; stacks with rendered shafts; cast iron rainwater goods. Tudor style.
Plan: Part of a complex built on the bluff overlooking the river Exe and grouped with the school and church, also funded by Gibbs; this block fronts the vista down to the Exe. Like the other blocks on the site, this consisted of 4 units with paired front doors in the centre and entrances on the returns for the outer units, left return altered for the addition of a c.1950s block. Single storey service blocks have been added to the rear.
Exterior: Single storey and 2 storeys. Symmetrical 4-bay front, the 2-storey outer bays gabled to the front and broken forward. Deep eaves and verges on brackets. Original openings painted white with quoined jambs. 2 & 3-light transomed mullioned windows with hoodmoulds and C20 glazing. Central gabled porch with stone Tudor arched doorway; plank doors; gabled porch to right return.
INTERIOR: not inspected but may retain features of interest.
Historical Note: The site was purchased by John Dinham to prevent its being used as a fairground. Gibbs, of Tyntesfield in Somerset, was a guano merchant and became a banker. He was born in Exeter and an effigy of him survives in St Michael's Church (qv) next to the free cottages.
This is part of an important Victorian group of philanthropic buildings, designed together.
Listing NGR: SX9151392671
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 480865
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 15-Jun-2026 at 14:29:13.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.