Description

CHUDLEIGH FORE STREET, (east side), Chudleigh
SX 8679
6/53 The Old House
23.8.55

GV II

House, formerly Pynsent's School, founded 1668 (date plaque). C19/early C20 rear left
addition, late C20 internal alterations. Whitewashed rendered stone; slate roof,
gabled at ends; end stacks and rear lateral stack to main range, end stack to rear
wing.
The main range is single depth, 3 rooms wide. A rear door opposed to the porch
suggests that there was originally a through passage arrangement; to the left of the
porch a very large room with no sign of an original stack (the left end stack appears
to be a modern addition). It has been suggested that this was originally the school
room and was open to the roof (1952 List Description). To the right of the porch
there are 2 rooms, 1 heated by the rear lateral stack, 1 heated by the right end
stack. A rear wing, at right angles to the lateral stack is 1 heated room on plan
and could be a later C17 kitchen, a parallel unheated wing may have been service
rooms. A further rear wing, at right angles to the left end of the main range is of
2 periods; the end of the wing is late C19/early C20 brick. The wing is in use as
flats. Late C20 single-storey addition to the rear right of the main range.
2-storeys. Asymmetrical 3+1+3 window front with a central 2-storey porch carried on
granite columns with square capitals and bases. Late C17 plank and cover strip door
with strap hinges in a chamfered doorway with jewelled scroll stops. Complete set of
co-eval windows; the ground floor windows are 4-lights with square leaded panes and 1
iron casement (some C20 repair to right hand windows), similar 3-light first floor
windows. A plaque on the front of the building is inscribed "John Pinsent of
Lincolns Inn Esq., born in this parish, hath erected this for a free school and
endowed it with Thirty Pounds Pannum (sil) Forever. 1668", coat of arms above
plaque.
Interior The lateral stack has an open fireplace with ashlar jambs and a replaced
lintel below a relieving arch. The putative late C17 kitchen at the rear has a
chamfered cross beam with scroll stops and an open fireplace with 1 stone rubble jamb
and a replaced lintel. A C20 stair has been inserted in the position of the former
passage. Roofspace not inspected, principal rafters visible in the first floor rooms
appear to be straight.
The coat of Arms on the left end wall referred to in the 1952 list description no
longer exists.
The intact fenestration of the house, which forms a group with the church, is a
notable survival.

Listing NGR: SX8667479376

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26389362

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

• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)