Description

SS 70 SE CREDITON HAMLETS

2/71 Elston Barton including 26.8.65 adjoining cob walls on south and east (formerly listed as Lower Elston)

GV II*

Farmhouse. Late C15-early C16 core, major C16 and C17 improvements, C19 extension and modernisation. Plastered cob on rubble footings; volcanic stone stacks topped with C19 brick; thatched roof. L-shaped building. Main block now fronts south and has 3-room-and-through-passage plan with inner room west end (left of front). Late C16-early C17 parlour block projects forward from inner room and dairy and chamber extension built onto service room in late C17. Hall stack backs onto passage, axial stack to service room (former end wall) and lateral stack in outer wall of parlour wing. Now 2 storeys throughout. Main block has irregular 5-window front of C19 and C20 casements of various sizes (most with glazing bars) with exception of horizontal sliding sash at right end. Front passage door left of centre has plank door in C17 solid oak, bead-moulded door frame with C19 hood on shaped wooden brackets. Roof is half-hipped to right. Gable end of parlour wing includes C19 16-pane sashes. Rear (original main) elevation is interrupted by adjoining farm courtyard walls (q.v.) It includes 3 early C17 oak window frames; 4 lights to service room, 2 to chamber over passage (both with ovolo-moulded mullions) and a 4-light frame to the inner room with unusual wave-moulded mullions. Also a first floor late C17 3-light flat-faced mullion window over door has iron casement and leaded panes. Rear door and hood similar to front, but the 2 are not positioned directly opposite. Good interior. Earliest feature is a late C15-early C16, smoke-blackened, (possibly jointed) cruck roof truss with cambered collar and seating for square-set ridge. it is positioned over upper side of passage. Either side are clean late C16-early C17 side-pegged jointed crucks probably erected at same time as hall stack inserted. This includes unusually high volcanic stone fireplace with oak lintel and chamfered surround. A section of contemporary oak plank-an-muntin screen survives flush with front of fireplace. Hall floored in early-mid C17 using 2, richly-moulded crossbeams with leaf-decorated step stops. Massive early C17 volcanic stone kitchen fireplace in service room with replacement lintel. Early C17 parlour wing but most early features removed or hidden in C19 though ground floor volcanic stone fireplace exposed with C20 replacement lintel and, in roofspace are remains of side-pegged jointed cruck truss with cambered collars and threaded purlins. Several late C17 features remain from a widespread refurbishment including a round-headed arch with applied architrave and keystone loading from hall to stairwell in inner room, now containing C20 stairs, and, on first floor landing, a 2-panel door with strap hinges and fleur-de-lys terminals. Roof over inner room and dairy extension built at same time, but latter has mid-late C19 roof. High plastered cob walls on rubble footings extend southwards from parlour wing to shelter front garden and eastwards from dairy to enclose kitchen garden. Good multi-phase Devon house, probably of gentry status. The deeds survive from 1664 when house belonged to Philip Elston of Crediton. Face to yard makes a well- preserved and evocative group with farm buildings (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SS7850602611

External Links

• Wikidata Q17547954

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Recommended Books

• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (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]
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)