Description

In the entry for:-

ST ALLEN
SW 85 SW
Trefronick Old Farmhouse
4/71
II

The list description shall be amended to read:-

Farmhouse, now a farm building. Probably C16, remodelled and extended probably
later in C7 and with C19 allterations. Whitewashed killas rubble and some cob
with dressed stone quoins. Grouted scantle slate roof largely reclad in corrugated
iron, with half-hipped and gabled ends. Truncated lateral stack and gable end stack
with short stone shaft.
Plan and development: L-shaped on plan. The main range on an east-west axis facing
north (probably originally south facing) is of 2 room and through passage plan. The
relatively small lower right(west) end room is unheaed and the large hall to the
left(east) has a lateral stack at the front; the partition between the hall and
the passage has been removed. There is no dividing wall between the hall and the
long wing behind the hall. This wing which has a gable end stack , is probably
a Cl7 parlour addition because a probate inventory of 1640 mentions only a hall,
kitchen and cellar. The room in the end of the wing was partitioned off later. In
circa early C19 a stair tower was built in the angle of the main range and the rear
wing and the external stairs at the rear of the lower end giving access to the loft
above is probably also a C19 alteration. A doorway has been inserted into the right
side of the hall's lateral stack and appears to have broken through a large oven
or smoking chamber. In the C20 the house was abandoned and became a farm building ,
some of the ceilings and floors were removed and low concrete partitions
were inserted.
Exterior :- 2 storeys. Assymmetrical north front with large truncated lateral
stack projecting on left, the right side of which has an inserted doorway. The
main doorway to right of centre has waney timber lintel and C19 flush-panel door.
Small casement windows to right and left of doorway and one above. The left hand
(east) side has later doorways inserted on ground floor with C20 plank doors and
3 windows above, 2 blocked and 1 sash with glazing bars. At rear (south) C19 panelled
door to left of centre with external stone stairs to left doorway to left and stair
tower with catslide roof in angle of projecting wing on right which has C20 sash
windows. The gable end of the wing has large later buttress. The west gable end
of the main range has doorway with plank door.
Interior:- mostly gutted for use as farm building but masonry wall partition
between putative passage and lower end survives. The early C19 staircase has a
stuck balustrade at the top. Some of the roof trusses have halfed and lapped
collars but the roof structure has been largely reconstructed. The hall fireplace
in the lateral stack has been blocked and its putative smoking chamber or oven
has been destroyed by an inserted doorway. Some closely- spaced chamfered and thin
ceiling beams remain in the main range.
Historical note:- "Trefronnick, in St. Allen, is another winged house which,......
apparently had no parlour: an inventory of 1640, for Joan Martyn,widow,whose house
it was, mentions only a hall,kitchen,cellar and other domestic roorns".(Chesher).
Source: V.M. and F.J. Chesher, The Cornishman's House, page 36.

------------------------------------

ST ALLEN
SW 85 SW
4/71 Trefronick Old Farmhouse

II

Farmhouse now animal penning and stores. C16-C17, with alterations in
C19. Whitewashed killas, the upper floor partly in cob. Corrugated iron
roof.
Plan: 'L'-plan, comprising a main north-south range with large stack
central to the west end, and an east-west range running west of the north
end bay, and stair block in re-entrant angle. Opposed doors central to
the east-west range, and a wide opening, perhaps original main door but
now reduced in width, is placed on the east face of the heated corner
room. A later entrance at the side of the stack is covered with a lean-to
porch.
Two storeys, Part of the north and east walls are in cob. The west end
room is probably added, and has an external stone stair to the upper room.
Windows on ground floor altered and blocked, but 3-light timber windows
with diagonal timber saddle bars survive, blocked, to corner room and
chamber over. Some C19 sash windows of various designs. Roof is of C19
Cornish type, the space above the wall plate blocked with cob.
Interior: Altered to form animal stalling. Stair C19. Blocked fireplace
to south gable, and main stack, with 3 square-cut offsets, also has
fireplace blocked.

The house is that referred to in the probate inventory of Joan Martyn,
widow, in 1640, containing hall, kitchen, cellar and service rooms.
Reconciliation of the inventory with the structure is not obvious, but the
corner room is probably the kitchen. The building is in poor condition at
time of survey (January 1988) but is of considerable archaeological
interest as being one of the very few substantially unaltered farmhouses
for which documentary evidence survives.

A Cornish cross was found on the farm and was removed and re-erected in
the churchyard. (q.v.)
(Chesher, V.M. & F.S. 'The Cornishman's House'. p.86)

Listing NGR: SW8251551704

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26434240

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

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