Description

CLANNABOROUGH
SX 79 NW
4/55
- Coltsfoot Farmhouse

- II*

Farmhouse. Early C17. Plastered cob on rubble footings; stone rubble and cob
stacks topped with C19 and C20 brick; thatch roof.
Main block faces south with a 2-room-and-through-passage plan. The larger left
(western) room is the kitchen with end stack. The right room is a parlour with an
axial stack backing onto the passage. To rear of the parlour is a service wing at
right angles with now-disused projecting end stack. 2 storeys.
Irregular 3-window front. Late C19 casements with glazing bars either side of
doorway and small fixed pane window at left end contains rectangular panes of
leaded glass. All first floor windows have early C17 oak 3-light frames with
ovolo-moulded mullions. Roughly-central doorway under original oak lintel with
ended. ovolo-moulded with scroll steps. It now contains C20 door. Roof is gable-
ended. Both ends are blind and left end leans out alarmingly and is propped by C20
buttress. Rear passage doorway under original lintel and includes original oak
frame with chamfered surround but is now blocked by C20 window. Gable end of
service wing has c20 doorway breaking through disused stack. To right on ground
floor is an original, oak 3-light window with chamfered mullions. It contains
early, if not original, thin rectangular panes of leaded glass and central iron
casement. On outer (eastern) side of the service wing are similar 3-light windows
on ground and first floor but only their central casements contain leaded glass.
Remarkably complete interior and very little modernised. Kitchen side of passage
has oak plank-and-muntin screen, the muntins chamfered with scroll stops. It
contains original plank door with chamfered cover strips, strap hinges and oak lock
housing. Kitchen has pitched cobble floor and soffit-chamfered and scroll stopped
crossbeam. Large rubble fireplace, with cob stack and has large oak lintel which
has ovolo soffit-moulding with scroll stops and oven in left side now lined with
C19 brick. To right of fireplace an oak doorframe with chamfered and scroll
stopped surround to original oak-framed newel stair. Both the doorway and cupboard
under stairs have original plank doors. To rear of passage is lobby containing C20
rebuilt newel stair and access to parlour and service block. Lobby-parlour
partition is an oak plank-and-muntin screen, its muntins chamfered and scroll-
stopped on both sides. Parlour has C20 tile floor said to cover original pitched
cobble floor which features a Tudor rose motif picked out in white stones.
Crossbeam has ovolo soffit-moulding with scroll stops. Oak lintel of volcanic
ashlar fireplace is given same treatment. Fireplace has inserted late C19 oven.
Window lintel is soffit-chamfered with scroll stops. The end wall has an oak bench
across with early C17 oak wainscotted back comprising small field panelling with
continuously moulded rails and moulded muntins with central recessed strips.
Doorframe from lobby to service block has an ovolo-moulded surround with chamfer-
scroll stops. Lozenges are carved on the chamfers. Service block has chamfered
and late step stopped axial beam. Fireplace is blocked and lintel is cut through
by C20 doorway. From stair head original doorways to chambers over service room
and parlour. Parlour chamber has small hooded fireplace with shaped oak corbels
and oak lintel which has ovolo soffit-moulding with scroll stops. The roofspace is
inaccessible but feet of large neatly-squared oak principals suggest that A-frames
are early C17 and that original roof structure is complete. High ceilings (up to
collar level) are also probably original.
According to the owners the deeds date back to 1574. However the plan and
carpentry detail, notably the widespread use of scroll stops, suggest an early C17
date. No scroll stops in Devon can conclusively be dated earlier than 1600.
Coltsfoot is a remarkably well-preserved small farmhouse, rich in original detail
and unusual for Devon being a single period build. Any alterations should be given
very careful consideration.

Listing NGR: SX7443697221

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26592694

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

• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)