Description

IDEFORD OLCHARD LANE
SX 87 NE
4/96 Underhayes Farmhouse

II

Farmhouse. Mostly circa early/mid C17, but possibly a remodelling of an earlier
house, some early C18 refurbishing, late C19 or C20 re-roofing. Rendered cob; slate
roof, gabled at left end, hipped at right end; axial stack, projecting front lateral
stack with truncated shaft.
The present plan is a 4 room and through passage arrangement. Internal evidence
suggests that the early core, which may pre-date the C17, was a 2 room and through
passage plan, the lower end to the right, the hall to the left of centre with an
axial stack backing on to the passage, the lower end (probably the kitchen) heated by
the front lateral stack. The small unheated inner room appears to be an addition but
is unlikely to be later than the C18. It appears always to have been a service room.
The right hand room, adjoining the lower end, was a stable with loft over: the stable
has been converted to house accommodation but the loft is still used as an
outbuilding. There is evidence of an early C18 refurbishment including a first floor
corridor giving access to the first floor bedrooms. Single-storey 1 room plan
addition at rear left, at right angles to the hall, is probably C19 or C20.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3 window front, no windows to the right of the front lateral
stack (the converted stable). Approximately central front door with a flat
corrugated iron canopy. Good circa early C18 front door with fielded panels and a
pegged doorframe. The 2 left hand ground floor windows are 4-light casements, 4 panes
per light. Ground floor window right is a 2-light casement, 3 panes per light.
First floor windows are 3 and 4-light casements, 3 panes per light, 1 a C17 mullioned
window with deeply chamfered mullions on the inner face.
Interior. Several features of interest, including a very complete early/mid C17 hall
with ovolo-moulded cross beams incised with a cross before the stop. Good open
fireplace with ovolo-moulded lintel and moulded granite jambs. Ovolo-moulded
doorframe between passage and hall. The stairs in the hall rise adjacent to the
stack and may originally have been a newel stair but later adapted to a straight
stair with plain splat balusters. 1 chamfered stopped C17 first floor doorway. The
thick cross wall between the hall and inner room has a 1-light first floor window
with a circa C17 or earlier timber frame suggesting that the wall was originally
external. On the ground floor the inner room has a chamfered axial beam. There are
a number of small cupboards in the thickness of the walls in the passage, hall and
stair well: they all appear to be C18, some with fielded panels, 1 with butterfly
hinges. The lower end cross beams are boxed in and the fireplace has a C20 grate,
possibly concealing earlier features.
The roof trusses are late C19/C20 and the pitch of the roof has been altered,
probably when the roofing material was changed from thatch to slate, but the stubs of
1 probably C17 truss survive, it may be a jointed cruck.
The house was formerly in the ownership of Torre Abbey. Deryck Seymour suggests that
the lower end may have been a court room, but if this were the case it is difficult
to know where the kitchen would have been sited.
A good house of the region with a very complete C17 hall and a front elevation,
conspicuous from the road and unspoiled by C20 windows.
Seymour, D., Torre Abbe (1977), p.p. 269-272.

Listing NGR: SX8798077117

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26389332

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.

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