Description

SS 72 SW GEORGE NYMPTON

5/62 Broomhouse and Broomhouse Farmhouse

II

House divided into 2. Late medieval origins, remodelled in the C17 and again in the circa early/mid C19 when it was also extended at the west end. Whitewashed and plastered, probably cob on stone rubble footings, stone rubble outshut; roof thatched to the front of the ridge, slated to the rear; end stacks and rear lateral stack (all with handmade brick shafts) to Broomhouse, end stack to Broomhouse Farmhouse, 2 stacks to the outshut, projecting through the roof. Plan: The present arrangement is a south-facing range, 5 rooms wide, with a 2-storey rear outshut extending the full length of the range. The early core is the right hand (east) part of the range (Broomhouse). This originated as a late medieval open hall house of which one smoke-stained roof truss survives, the apex about 2 metres below the present ridge. The house is likely to have been floored in the C17 but very little evidence from this period remains: the position of the 3 right hand stacks suggest a 3 room plan house in the C17, (lower end to the right), the present entrance to Broomhouse may be on the site of the original C17 entrance: it faces a straight run stair with circa mid C17 newel posts. The roof structure over the 3 right hand rooms is very late C17 or C18. The house was presumably raised at this date and the height of the first floor may have been raised as well, as there is no exposed C17 carpentry to the ground floor ceilings. Some C18 panelling upstairs and a china cupboard in the centre ground floor room indicate refurbishment at this date: this was followed by an early C19 remodelling retaining the old ground plan but giving a garden front with French windows and a verandah. It is difficult to date the service outshut but it may also be early C19, although perhaps incorporating an earlier outshut to the left hand (west) property. Broomhouse Farmhouse is more difficult to interpret: it may have originated as a late C17 or C18 addition to Broomhouse, the extreme left hand (west end) room is said to be a C19 extension. The outshut is cut back into the slope of the land with steps down to an alleyway to the rear doors, the alleyway protected by C19 iron railings. An underground cellar extends north from the rear of Broomhouse, under the lane to the farm to the east. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 2:6 window front: Broomhouse, to the left, symmetrical with a central thatched porch with a half-glazed C19 or early C20 front door. 3-light casements, probably C20, with glazing bars. The south elevation of Broomhouse to the right, has a 9-bay verandah, probaby a C20 reconstruction of a C19 verandah, retaining C19 pitched stone flooring, and a C20 front door to right of centre flanked by 2-light small-pane C19 casements. To the left, 2 early C19 French windows with glazing bars, one similar window to the right. 2- and 3-light small- pane C20 casements to the first floor, C20 copies of C19 windows. The rear elevation retains a set of first floor 4 over 8 pane C19 sashes to the outshut, C19 railings above the rear alleyway and a good late C19 gate to the garden at the east end of the range. At the west end of the range the rear wall is canted inwards. Interior: Broomhouse Farmhouse is modernized, retaining a large, probably C19 open fireplace at the left (west) end. Broomhouse retains C17 bobbin turned newel posts at the top of the straight run stair; a very pretty C18 china cupboard in the centre room has shaped shelves and a shell hood; C18 fielded panelling to the window embrasure on first floor right. The 2 left hand ground floor rooms have C19 plaster cornices and a mid C19 chimney-piece on the first floor is complete with iron grate. Roof: The apex of one smoke-stained medieval truss is visible in the roofspace to left of the centre of Broomhouse. The principal rafters are mortised at the apex and the ridge, which is missing was diagonally-set. The other trusses over Broomhouse are collar rafter, the collars butted on to the principals which are pegged at the apex. The date is probably late C17 or C18. One of the trusses may be fixed on to the foot of a second medieval truss as a curved foot is visible below the ceiling, plastered-over. The outshut roof is probably early C19. Roof over Broomhouse not inspected. The cellar below the lane north of Broomhouse has a slate floor and water runnel; it consists of one cell and a narrow winding tunnel, open at both ends. An unsually large traditional house, evidently of gentry quality by the mid C19. White's Devon (1850) describes it as the "pleasant seat" of J.G. Pearse Esq., solicitor, who owned an estate in the parish and in 1879 it was lived in by George Bush, described as a civil engineer, a tenant of the Rev. J.G. Pearce, White's Devon (1879).

Listing NGR: SS7042423386

External Links

• Wikidata Q26401047

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Recommended Books

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)