Description

CHULMLEIGH THE SQUARE, Chulmleigh
SS 6814-6914
7/111 Rainbow House
GV II
House, incorporating shop. Early C19. Rendered stone rubble. Asbestos slate roof
with large gable end brick stacks.
Plan: 2 rooms deep, with principal front room to each side of through-passage, the
left-hand room used as an antique shop. Both the 2 rear rooms are heated, that to
the right probably a second parlour, that to the left the kitchen, with an axial
partition creating a small pump room between it and the passage. 2 staircases both
running up from left to right between the 2 front and rear rooms, that to the left
formerly the servants staircase with access from the kitchen and formerly the front
the room, that to right the principal staircase with access from the through-passage.
Also on the left side between the front and rear room are the stairs leading down to
the cellar under the front left-hand room.
Exterior: 2 storeys. 3 bays. Symmetrical. Rusticated quoins. Early C19
fenestration entirely intact, all 12 paned hornless sashes. Large single-paned shop
window to left of doorway with plain timber fascia and pilasters. Semi-circular
arched central doorway with rusticated surround, human head keystone, raised and
fielded 6 panelled door with fanlight.
Interior: Unspoilt C19 interior fittings largely intact. Front right-hand principal
room has marble chimneypiece, plaster cornice and segmental arched alcove to rear
wall. C19 straight-run staircases. Kitchen fireplace rebuilt in C20, otherwise
fittings intact including pump and pump-room partition. C19 register grates to
second parlour and principal bedrooms. C19 roof structure with 4 wide-span king-post
trusses.
Rainbow House in the C19 and early C20 was the town Post Office. There is a blocked
doorway through to the former toll-house (q.v.) adjoining at left end which at one
time was used as the sorting office. The rear doorway of Rainbow House has been
reduced in width in the C20, there formerly being external access into the pump-room,
and it is believed the house at one stage was divided into 2 occupations.

Listing NGR: SS6876814170

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26400530

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

• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings