Westacott Barton, North Tawton, Devon: Analysis and Interpretation of a Devon Hall House

Author(s): Olivia Horsfall Turner, Barry V Jones

Westacott Barton is a 15th- or early 16th-century cob-built former open hall house with jointed-cruck trusses, which retains its smoke-blackened roof timbers and smokeblackened thatch. It was recorded by RCHME in 1956 and again in 1996, but in 2010 repair works revealed supplementary evidence regarding the construction of the roof, prompting a request for further investigation in order to inform proposed repairs. This permitted a reconsideration of the original plan form and the development of the house through subsequent phases. The original plan appears to have been a two-bay open hall with a service bay at each end. In the mid- to late 16th century the hall was ceiled-in, as was the western service bay, which was also provided with a chimney stack. In the late 16th or early 17th century a high-status north parlour wing was added, which was subsequently decorated with high-quality plasterwork dating to the same period. In the mid- to late 17th century a two-storey service bay was added to the west end of the main range. Further expansion took place in the mid-18th to early 19th century, when a linhay was added to the south elevation. Probably at the same time, a brick chimney stack was inserted into the western service bay, opening onto the hall. In the later 19th century, ancillary spaces were added, such as a replacement staircase between the main range and the north wing. The development of Westacott Barton from an open hall to a ceiled-in hall with separate kitchen is typical, but the addition of the exceedingly highly finished north wing is unusual for a farmhouse of this status. The high and low ends of the original hall have been respected during the accretive development of additional spaces around the main range.

Report Number:
57/2011
Series:
Research Department Reports
Pages:
34
Keywords:
Building Recording Medieval Plaster Post Medieval Building Investigation

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