Description

SX 86 NE COFFINSWELL COFFINSWELL
3/90 Old Well House
-
23.8.55
GV II
House, formerly probably farmhouse. C16, altered in C17 and C18 and considerably
modernised in circa early-mid C20. Rendered cob walls. Thatched roof, gabled to
right end and at front of shallow projection, hipped to left end. Rendered rubble
axial stack at centre and brick gable end stack to right.
Originally 3 room and through-passage plan, quite likely to have been open to the
roof with central hearth, although no direct evidence of this is visible. Hall stack
inserted backing onto passage in C17, inner room gable stack probably later. Hall
extended at the front probably in the later C17. At some stage, possibly C18, the
lower end appears to have been re-roofed or rebuilt judging from its lower roof-
line and later roof construction. C20 lean-to at lower end and projection at rear
to take staircase.
Mainly 2 storeys, although left-hand section is lower and only has loft on first
floor with no windows. Asymmetrical 5 window front to ground floor, 2 windows to
first floor. Shallow 2 storey gabled projection to right of centre at front of
hall. To its left the roof-line drops and there are no first floor windows. C20
plank door to former passage at left of projection. The thatched roof extends over
it in a shallow pentice supported on 2 circa late C17 wooden fluted columns with
leaf ornament at top and foliage capitals. To left of door is 1 then 3-light mid
C20 casement with diamond "leaded" panes. To either side of the 3-light window is a
sloping buttress. Lean-to C20 extension at left end has similar 3-light window.
The gabled hall projection has a similar 3-light window on first floor with single
light and 2-light windows below it. To the right of the projection is a similar 3-
light window on the ground floor with 2-light window above. Placed around the
ground floor window here and the windows in the projection are several pieces of
carved plasterwork in the design either of a lion's head or a Corinthian capital;
these were probably placed here when the windows were replaced and are likely to
have been re-used from elsewhere.
Interior is interesting in the combination of original features and those introduced
probably in the mid C20 re-modelling from another house (although some may be
earlier). The lower room is panelled with some C17 panelling and sections of
decorative frieze, the remainder being a C20 copy. The hall fireplace has its
original C17 wood lintel chamfered with traces of hollow step stops. To this at
some stage has been added an ornate surround of re-used material incorporating a
column either side identical to those used in the porch outside and sections of
carved wood above the lintel.
Running above the fireplace is a chamfered half beam with pyramid stop which has
been cut off before it reaches the front wall. There is a similar central cross
beam which is supported at the front on a chamfered wall post which curves out to
support it; this odd arrangement was probably introduced when the front wall of the
hall was built out. A virtually complete set of scratch moulded joists survives in
the hall. At its upper end is a C17 plank and muntin screen with the muntins and
head beam above each plank richly beaded. The original plank door to the screen
survives and there is a similar door at the lower end of the hall. The inner room
has a chamfered half beam at its upper end. On the first floor the bases of 3 side-
pegged jointed crucks are visible with threaded purlins, the central one has a
morticed collar; there is no roof access above these trusses. The lower end has an
C18 pegged roof with straight principals.
As well as having a number of good features from various periods this house has the
additional interest of possessing a number of good quality pieces of C17 carved
woodwork introduced from elsewhere.

Listing NGR: SX8876168805

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26389573

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

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)