Description

TEDBURN ST MARY CHURCH HILL
SX 89 SW

3/78 Vennemile
(formerly listed as North
11.11.52 Venimiles and barn)

II

House. Late medieval origins, circa late C16 remodelling in 2 phases, circa late C19
rear addition, some late C20 alteration. Whitewashed rendered cob with thatched
roof, hipped at left end over former barn, gabled at right end; C19 rear addition
whitewashed brick; large stack with set-offs on front wall, right gable end stack.
The present plan is a 3 room and through passage house, lower end to the right with
an additional room at the left end (barn conversion); a rear right outshut and a 2-
storey rear centre addition of the C19. The origins of the house are a late medieval
open hall floored over in at least 2 phases; firstly, the narrow unheated inner room
to the left; secondly, the addition of the front lateral stack to the hall; then the
flooring over of the hall: the development of the heated right-hand end of the house
is not clear. The rear outshut, which is probably later was replaced in the centre
with a 2-storey circa late C19 addition. In the late C20 a barn adjoining the left
end of the house was converted as additional accommodation.
2 storeys. Irregular 2+5-window front, the thatch swept down over the left-hand end.
The front elevation of the main range has a large, approximately central projecting
stack with set-offs on the front wall with a semi-circular bread oven and the thatch
eaves eyebrowed over the 2 first floor (left) windows, gabled over the 2 right-hand
windows. The first floor has one 3-light blocked timber mullioned window, the other
windows are 2- and 3-light with 3 or 6 panes per light. To the right of the stack a
C20 timber and glazed porch to the through passage front door. The converted barn at
the left end has a separate entrance with a C20 gabled porch, 2 ground floor C20 2-
light casements and a first floor arched fixed window probably imported from
elsewhere. The rear right outshut has a continuously thatched catslide roof.
Interior Early features survive internally. A fine oak plank and muntin screen
between the hall and inner room is notable for having chamfered muntins on both
sides with diagonal stops on the hall side and Step stops on the inner room side. On
the hall side the hall bench and bench end with a curly profile survive, both
carefully repaired; square-headed doorway in screen. The open fireplace in the hall
has a chamfered lintel with step stops and jambs rebuilt in brick. The plain hall
cross beam may be a replacement. The lower end room has a roughly-chamfered cross
beam and exposed joists; C20 grate but some evidence of an earlier timber lintel to
the fireplace.
No access to roofspace at time of survey (1985) but an inspection of 1983 (Peter
Beacham, Devon County Council) refers to heavily smoke-blackened timbers and smoke-
blackened thatch. At least 1 roof truss is a jointed cruck.
Vennemile, slightly set back from the road, is a particularly handsome example of an
evolved cob and thatch house of the region with a fine hall screen and other internal
features.

Listing NGR: SX8135294204

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26510671

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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  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
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  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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