Description

MEAVY MEAVY
SX 56 NW
4/102 Royal Oak Inn
-
GV II

Inn, originally church house. Early C16, with C18 extensions altered in C19.
Rendered stone rubble walls exposed at rear. Gable ended slate roof. 3 stone
rubble stacks, one at each gable end and a lateral stack at the front.
Originally 2 storey, 3 room plan probably with cross passage and not through passage
as the ground level is higher at the rear. As a church house the normal room
functions would not necessarily apply but each of these rooms appears originally to
have been heated unless the lateral stack served a 1st floor fireplace of which
there is now no sign. An original straight run staircase was placed in a projection
at the rear of the central room. In the C18 a single storey outbuilding was added
at the right-hand end. In circa early C19 an entrance door was inserted directly
beneath the front lateral stack. Later in the C19 an outshut was added at the left
and right-hand ends. Probably in the C20 the 2 left-hand rooms were knocked into
one.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4 window front. At the left on the lst floor is an early
C19 casement of 1 light with small panes. The 2 central 1st floor windows are early
C19 16 pane hornless sashes with a C20 facsimile to their right. On the ground
floor to the left is a C20 French window. To its right are 2 C20 2-light casements
with small panes, the left-hand one is in a slightly arched opening. Right of
centre is an early C19 6-panel door under a probably contemporary gabled doorhood
supported on carved brackets. To its right is a C20 16 pane sash window. Single
storey C18 outbuilding attached at the right-hand with a C19 lean-to beyond it and
another at the left gable end. At the rear is a rectangular stair projection to
right of centre. To its left on the 1st floor is an original 2-light granite
mullion window with segmental heads to the lights.
A photograph of the front of the house when the plaster was removed a few years ago
reveals similar blocked 2-light mullion window towards the left end. It also shows
that the ground floor window in the slightly arched opening is in fact occupying a
stone arched doorway, presumably the original entrance.
Interior: The right-hand room has a very large inglenock fireplace with 2 stone
ovens. Monolithic granite jamb to the left and chamfered wooden lintel with traces
of hollow step stops. There are 3 chamfered cross beams to the ceiling with hollow
step stops. The left-hand room has similar ceiling beams, although one is plain,
with very recent joists. The stair has had the treads replaced but has a
distinctive 'stepped' ceiling similar to the stairs in the Church House at
Walkhampton. In the 1st right-hand extension the roof trusses are fairly
substantial and pegged at the apex, with lapped and pegged collars. Roof space over
the main building not inspected and the structure may be of interest.
Source: G W Copeland - Devonshire Church Houses: T.D.A. XCIII, p.128

Listing NGR: SX5407667206

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Royal Oak Inn official website
• Wikidata Q26399390

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)