Description

SWIMBRIDGE
SS 63 SW
8/163 Dean Head, including apple store
and coal shed to rear

II*

Farmhouse, now house, probably early C16, remodelled early C17 and with C19
alterations. Whitewashed stone rubble and cob, some slate hanging at left gable
end. Pair of diagonally set brick shafts to stone stack at left gable end and tall
rendered lateral stack to rear with tapered cap. Through-passage, formerly open
hall plan, with a dairy with slated lean-to roof beyond the hall. In the early
C17, floors were inserted and a wide gable-ended stair turret projection added to
rear of through passage. Possibly at some time a long right-angled extension was
added at rear of upper end of hall, presumably a kitchen wing with large ridge
stack with brick shaft and beyond it cider apple store with rear access to first
floor loft. In the C19 a lower row of coal sheds was added in line with the stair
turret to form a rear 3-sided courtyard plan with a length of cob wall with
pantiled caping enclosing the courtyard on the fourth side. 2 storeys. 3 window
range of C19 casements, 3-, 4- and 2-lights, from left to right, 6 panes per light
with original glass. Two 3-light casement to ground floor, 6 panes per light
flanking wide through-passage doorway with plank door and slated gabled roof to
timber porch with a small 2-light ovolo timber mullion window to its right with
square-leaded cames. Plank door to dairy at right end. 2-light window with stone
hoodmould to outer face of rear right-angled projection to right side with a small
chamfered mullion window to its right. Slated lean-to roof to outshut along
courtyard side. Stair turret has 2 pigeon holes to right of 2-light casement 6
panes per light and 3-light casement with old L-hinges to left, 6 panes per light
over a timber ovolo mullion window of 4 lights with square-leaded cames, the light
second from left has old iron casement.
Interior: many features of the early C17 remodelling survive. These include a fine
plank-and-muntin screen to parlour to lower side of through passage. The muntins
have thin lateral ovolo-mouldings, 6 planks to right and 5 to left of parlour
doorway, square-headed with chamfered and scroll-stopped surround. Original 3
plank door framed and ledged with old lock. Ovolo-moulded beam above the headrail.
Rear through-passage doorway has chamfered and scroll-stopped surround. Parlour
contains nice C17 ornamental plasterwork. The ceiling divided into 3 sections by 2
beams with plasterwork mouldings and each with 2 floriated devices flanking winged
horse on the soffits. Section nearest to stack no longer survives, but the other 2
sections have interlaced geometric ribwork between 4 different paterae in line.
Above the screen are 6 plaster panels depicting identical demi-figure with
outstreched hands holding swags at base of torso. Above the chamfered and scroll
stopped lintel to chimneypiece with stone jambs is a plasterwork overmantel in
triptych form, the wide central panel with large central lozenge with intertwined
foliage. Pairs of figures above and below flank the diamond identical to the demi-
figures above the screen. Each side panel has human head in high relief with
strapwork designs above and below. Hall to right of through-passage probably
originally had plaster ceiling but this has not survived. Stop-chamfered fireplace
lintel. Stair turret to rear has chamfered and scroll-stopped doorway surrounds at
foot and head of staircase both with old ledged plank doors with moulded cover
strips. 3 further chamfered door surrounds to upper floor rooms, with scroll
stops, that to bedroom at upper end is partly cased in. 2-panelled door to
central bedroom. Main bedroom above parlour has fine ornamental plasterwork
overmantel, probably by the Abbotts of Frithelstock/Langree. Central panel
depicting "the seasons" in strapwork cartouche with 2 mythical beasts heads to the
top corners and human heads to the lower corners. Floriated emblems to each side
and rosette to bottom centre (T.D.A. Vol. 89, p.138-139 and Plate 19). Single
raised jointed cruck truss survives over hall, with collar morticed into soffits of
the blades, smoke blackened in roof space. C17 roof structure superimposed above
original roof with 3 original trusses with straight principals, 2 tiers of threaded
purlins and diagonally threaded ridge purlin, the other 2 trusses are later
replacements with trenched purlins, some of the purlins being reused and smoke
blackened. The stair turret has a single truss and single tier of threaded
purlins. Rear extension has 3 rough trusses with purlins partly trenched, partly
resting on backs of the principals.

Listing NGR: SS6245833668

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532129

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)