Description

BISHOPS TAWTON
SS 52 NE
10/10 Great Halmpstone
-
GV II*

Mansion house, now farmhouse. Probably C15 but earlier fabric may be concealed,
entirely remodelled c.1700. Stone rubble with brick plat-band. Slate roofs with
crested ridge tiles, hipped to front range with coved eaves cornice. Brick shafts
to rear lateral stacks to each end of main range, that to left with slated offsets,
that to right enclosed in rear extension which has a further ridge stack and triple
diagonally set brick shafts to the gable end. The remodelled front range comprises
symmetrical facade with a large principal room each side of wide entrance hall with
stair turret to rear. The thicknesses of the partition walls to each side of the
entrance hall are, however, entirely different, and, in fact, the much thicker
dividing wall on the east side aligns with the right-angled rear wing forming an
overall L-shaped plan. The wing and the eastern portion of the main range,
therefore, appear to contain the earliest fabric with rebuilding of the western
portion of the main range to create a symmetrical facade c.1700.
2 storeys and attic storey. 3 gabled dormers with 2-light windows, 3-panes per
light, 5-window range of 2-light cross windows, 4 over 6 panes with a weathered
continuous plasterwork cornice hoodmould. Ground floor has two 2-light cross
windows, 4 over 8 panes rising to just below plat-band which is interrupted by wide
relieving arch infilled with plank door with 2-paned overlight inserted. Rear wing
on east side has one 3-light and a 2-light ovolo timber mullion window close to
eaves level above 2 doorways, infilled to right side. 2-light over 3-light window
at left end. Dairy outshut in the angle of the main range and rear wing has a
timber 3-light ovolo mullion window at its right end.
Interior: principal room to east has stone bolection-moulded chimneypiece. All 4
walls are panelled with large panels above and lying panels below thin dado rail
with integral shutters to the windows, cupboards on east wall and bolection moulded
door surround. Fireplace blocked up in principal room to west which has 2 ceiling
beams, plastered over. Dog-leg staircase with acorn finials to the heavy newels of
square section, moulded handrail and turned balusters. Bolection moulded
chimneypiece across the corner of the east bedroom. Moulded plaster cornice to
bedroom over entrance hall. The roof structure is only partially accessible in the
attic storey, the principal truss appearing to be that over the east end of the
main range which has heavy principals with short curved feet, and an arch braced
collar tenoned into mortices to the soffits of the principals, the arch bracing
with chamfers to both arrises and joining at the centre of the collar. Originally
3 tiers of threaded purlins. The truss may be reset, but it is possible that the 4
remaining trusses to the main range are also medieval, the 2 at the west end
particularly appear to have curved and possibly jointed feet, but no arch bracing.
The purlins have been sawn through when the dormers were inserted.

Listing NGR: SS5943228354

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532175

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

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)