Description

SAMPFORD COURTENAY
SX 69 NW
8/150 Middle Corscombe
GV
II

House formerly farmhouse. Circa early to mid Cl7, possibly with late medieval
origins, C18 and C19 additions. Plastered cob and rendered stone walls. Gable
ended thatch roof to older part, hipped slate roof to C19 block. This has 2 slate
hung brick end stacks. The older part has a C17 granite ashlar axial stack with
tapering cap. brick stack at right gable end.
Plan: originally 3-room and through passage plan, lower end to the left, with hall
stack backing onto passage, and small inner room originally unheated. In the circa
late C18 a small dairy wing was added at the rear of the hall. In the mid-later C19
the lower end was demolished and replaced by a symmetrical 2-room block at right
angles to it - this became the principal range and the older part was relegated to
service use.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Original range has asymmetrical 3-window front (1 window on
first floor) of circa early C20 2 and 3-light casements. C19 plank door to passage
at left-hand end. The C19 range is at right angles to the left end of the original
part. It has a symmetrical 3-window front of mid-late C19 4-pane sashes with
central 4-panel door.
Interior of old range has a surprisingly high quality and very complete hall which
is relatively small. It has a framed ceiling of chamfered beams with bar and hollow
step stops. Open fireplace with chamfered wooden lintel which has ogee stops,
beside it is a built-in settle probably of C18 or C19 date. Against the higher end
wall is a C17 bench with panelling behind - this is of an unusual form with a small
decorative finial above each of the stiles. There is also an integral shaped bench
end which has similar finials. In the front wall is an C18 wall cupboard. The
inner room has chamfered cross beams with hollow step stops. Good quality late C18
tall wall cupboard with dentilled cornice and fluted pilasters. Contemporary
chimneypiece of similar design with Grecian urn to frieze. The passage has heavy
chamfered axial beams with ogee stops. Granite ashlar back to hall fireplace. Roof
timbers probably replaced in the C18 as there are no substantial principal rafters
and the timbers rest on the wall-plates.
Despite the C19 addition the early part of this house remains very unaltered and for
its modest size has some surprisingly high quality internal features.

Listing NGR: SX6202296187

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26440094

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

• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)