Description

CHULMLEIGH SOUTH MOLTON STREET
SS 6814
(west side), Chulmleigh
7/98 The Old Bakehouse (formerly listed
as Cottam's Bakery)
GV II
House, formerly incorporating bakery. Early to mid C16, remodelled in late C16 or
early C17, with considerable C19 and C20 alterations. Painted rendered stone rubble
and cob. Thatch roof with plain ridge and gable ends. Brick shaft to stone rubble
rear lateral stack towards left end, and brick stack at right end.
Plan: Main range now forms single large room except that, to the right of the
principal entrance, an axial partition divides the right-hand side into 2 rooms, the
front part forming a shop. Right-angled kitchen wing to rear right end forming
overall L-shaped plan.
Development: Complex sequence of alterations has obscured the original plan. The
largely intact roof structure indicates its origins as a former open hall house; the
principal (left-hand) entrance with its opposing rear doorway appears to indicate the
position of the former through-passage, part of a plank and muntin screen surviving
to the right-hand side. The lower end was therefore to the left, heated by the rear
lateral stack, the fireplace retaining evidence of a bread oven and suggesting this
was the service end. The truss over the lower end, however, is set so close to the
gable end wall that it seems likely that the house extended further to the left,
prior to the building of Fernside (q.v.). The smoke-blackening appears to extend
from end to end, suggesting the entire range was originally open to the roof, but
replacement of the truss over the lower side of the former through-passage has
obscured any evidence of a phased insertion of floors. The blackening is relatively
light, suggesting a comparatively short time elapsed before the ceiling over of the hall
occured. A good early C17 winder staircase survives to the rear left-hand corner of
the former hall. The hall apparently was heated by an inserted front lateral stack,
but only part of the left-hand jamb of the fireplace survives, the stack having been
demolished and the 2-storey hall window bay (which had probably been built out in the
C17) was extended to the left in the mid C19 to incorporate a large ground floor shop
window and entrance. The shop itself was created out of the hall by the insertion of
an axial partition butting onto the surviving section of the plank and muntin screen,
the rear part of which was removed. The rear half of the hall would thus have been
left unheated, and this was solved by the insertion of a stone rubble wall
incorporating a stack at the right end. In the roofspace, however, this wall reduces
to a lath and plaster partition, and it therefore seems highly likely that the
adjoining cottage (No.6 (q.v)) may well have formed the parlour end to The Old
Bakehouse, unfortunately the roof structure over No.6 has been replaced in C20, but
the purlins are crudely sawn off over the inserted stack and partition. Also in the
C19, a rear wing was added, used for racking baked loaves until the closing of the
bakery in the 1960's, when it was converted to a kitchen, the upper storey largely
rebuilt. The bakehouse proper is situated in the detached building at the rear of
the property, but within living memory the courtyard was covered over.
Exterior: 2 storeys. 4 window range C19 fenestration principally intact. 3 light
casements to upper storey, including oriel at right end with shaped timber brackets.
Ground floor has C20 2 light window at left end. The principal doorway of 4 panels,
the upper 2 panels glazed, shop doorway and window of 6 tall panes have a continuous
bracketted canopy over. 3 light window 3 panes per light at right end.
Interior: Lower end fireplace lintel replaced in C20. Hearth partially lined with
hand made bricks, and part of bread oven survives. C19 dado matchboard panelling to
end wall. Section of plank and muntin screen with chamfered muntins, 4 1/2 planks wide
to right of former through-passage. Chamfered axial hall ceiling beam, terminating
at front end where the section has been built out. Narrow gable end fireplace has
chamfered brick arch. Early C17 winder staircase to rear of left-hand corner of hall
has balustrade at head of stairs with six C17 turned balusters and larger newel, the
handrail apparently reused as bottom rail. C19 fireplace to chamber over hall with
eared surround and register grate.
Roof: 3 cruck trusses, the feet boxed in or concealed, so not clear whether jointed,
with 2 tiers of threaded purlins and ridge purlin and morticed and tenoned cranked
collars. Truss over lower side of passage replaced probably in C18 or early C19.
Rafters and battens largely intact, and all roof members except the underside of the
thatch are smoke-blackened.

Listing NGR: SS6867014289

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26445687

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

• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)