Description

SX 68 NE GIDLEIGH FORDER

3/191 North Forder Farmhouse
-
GV II*

Farmhouse, former Dartmoor longhouse. Whitewashed granite stone rubble with large
dressed quoins; granite stack with its original granite ashlar chimney shaft; thatch
roof.
Plan: originally a 3-room-and-through-passage plan Dartmoor longhouse facing south-
east and built down a relatively steep hillslope. The inner room, at the left
(south-west) end, is terraced so deeply into the hillslope that the eaves of the
roof nearly touch the ground. The hall has an axial stack backing onto the former
passage (it is now blocked). The shippon, at the downhill right end, has now been
brought into domestic use. Since no interior inspection was available at the time
of this survey it is not possible to describe the development of the house although
it seems likely that the house begun as a late medieval open hall house. Now 2
storeys.
Exterior: irregular front fenestration comprising 3 ground floor and 2 first floor
windows, all C19 casements with glazing bars. The house is quite low and the centre
section of the eaves rises to accommodate the first floor windows. The front
passage doorway is set a little right of centre and contains a possible C18 plain
oak frame containing an old plank door. The roof is half-hipped to left and hipped
to right. First floor casement in left end wall. The right end wall is blind but
appears to contain a blocked vent or dung hatch with a blocked drain below.
Interior was not available for inspection at the time of this survey but obviously
has had only minor and superficial modernisations in the C20. The roof is very low
which might mean that there is a late medieval, or at latest C17, roof structure.
Before any modernisation or alteration to the house a thorough internal survey
should be undertaken lest early structure or detail be destroyed. This is an area
rich in farmhouses dating from the late C15, C16 or C17 and this appears to be a
classic unmodernised example. Moreover it is a very attractive Dartmoor farmhouse.

Listing NGR: SX6710289577

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17537254

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

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)