Description

SX 79 SE DUNSFORD

2/2 Clifford Barton and adjoining barn
-
11.11.52
II*

Farmhouse. C15 or earlier with remodelling of the late C16 and C17. C20 alterations
to front elevation. Stone rubble to first floor level, cob above, whitewashed and
rendered; asbestos slate roof gabled at left end, end stacks, end stack to wing.
Complex development with several medieval building phases. The core of the house is
a medieval open hall of which 2 roof trusses remain and which orginally extended at
least 1 further bay to the lower (south) end to the right. The surviving trusses are
unusual and could date from before the C15. The house was modified and possibly
extended in the later medieval period: a 2-bay smoke-blackened roof at the lower end
has a roof truss of a more conventional type and there is a similar smoke-blackened
truss over the inner room. There is some evidence for a full height partition up to
the apex of the roof over the lower (south) end and there may have been 2 open
hearths. In the C16 the process of ceiling over the open hall began at the higher
end which jettied into the hall and the inner room was given a fine fireplace to a
rear lateral stack (dismantled late C20) and a newel stair in a rear turret. The
hall stack, backing on to the passage, may have been inserted prior to ceiling over
the hall and lower end; access to the first floor chamber over the hall was via a
second rear stair turret. The lower end screen of the passage and a fine screen at
the inner end of the hall are probably later C16 or C17 additions. In the C19 a wing
was built at right angles at the front of the lower end providing a C19 kitchen and
an overall L plan. In the late C20 the thatch was replaced and a new roof
constructed above the medieval roofs, the fenestration was altered on the front
elevation, first floor and the axial hall stack was dismantled.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window front with a C20 porch to the front door of the
passage on the extreme right of the main range. 3 first floor half-dormers, 2 ground
floor windows; the first floor windows are C20 casements; the 2 ground floor windows
are 3-light probably C18 casements with old square leaded panes and some bottle
glass. The front right wing has a slate roof and 1 ground floor 3-light casement, 6
panes per light and a further entrance into the kitchen.
Interior Remarkable survival of medieval roofs, C16 and C17 joinery and other
features. The earliest roof trusses, in the centre, are arch braced jointed crucks
joined by a buried double tenon held by pegs with extra face pegs (Thorp). The
trusses have cambered collars and king posts below a saddle with a square set ridge.
There are Wind braces between the 2 trusses and curved braces from the foot of the
king posts to the ridge. On the south side of the southern truss, which is closed, a
mortise in the king post indicates that the same arrangement extended at least
another bay to the south, sooted rafters and battens also survive. The roof truss
over the lower (south) end, which is also heavily smoke-blackened, is collar rafter
with the principals mortised at the apex, a straight collar, diagonally-set ridge and
threaded purlins. The truss over the inner end is partly obscured but appears to be
of the same.design. The late C16/early C17 ground floor hall is virtually complete.
The open fireplace has chamfered granite jambs and lintel and an ashlar chimney
breast, shaft dismantled late C20. The hall cross beams are deeply chamfered with
step stops, one has been truncated when the hall window was enlarged. The oak plank
and muntin screen at the inner end of the hall has chamfered muntins stopped off at
the level of the hall bench which still exists and terminates in a fine, rare bench
end with an elaborate profile and domed finial. The stair turret doorway is
chamfered with a cambered lintel. The inner room has a cross beam with runout stops
and a good granite fireplace; a hollow and roll moulding on the lintel is continued
and dies away on the jambs. The turret has a chamfered doorway with a cambered
lintel and a granite newel stair. An oak plank and muntin screen at the lower side
of the passage has chamfered muntins. The lower end room has chamfered cross beams
with bar stops and a 2-light timber mullioned window with chamfered mullions which is
now internal but was formerly on the front wall before the C19 extension was built.
The barn adjoining the C19 kitchen addition is probably also C19, stone rubble with a
slate roof with a gabled end. The barn has 2 ground floor entrances, stone steps
against the front wall lead to a loft doorway at the left, loft window in the centre.
In spite of the C20 alterations this is a most important medieval house with
remarkable interior features; the first medieval roof may be one of the earliest in
the county and has similarities of design with the roof of the Rectory at Cheriton
Bishop.
Thorp, John, MS notes on Clifford Barton.

Listing NGR: SX7807790023

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17535489

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: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)