Description

SS 72 NE BISHOP'S NYMPTON

2/25 Sheepwash Farmhouse and outbuilding adjoining at west end 20.2.67 II

Farmhouse and adjoining outbuilding, part of the Bishop's Nympton estate. Late C16/early C17, remodelled in the C19 and probably at other periods. Stone rubble, roughcast on most of the rear (north) elevation, cob on stone rubble footings to front (south) elevation of the 2 west blocks; absestos slate roof, gabled at ends; right end stack with a probably C17 stone shaft with drip ledges, rear left lateral stack with a brick shaft, now enclosed by an outshut. Plan: A single depth south-facing range of at least 3 different builds with 3 separate rooflines. The present arrangement is single depth, 3 rooms wide with a cross passage to right of centre and an outbuilding at the left end. The late C16/early C17 arrangement seems to have been a lower end parlour or kitchen heated by the end stack, a hall heated by the rear lateral stack and an unheated inner room. Fragments of decorated plasterwork indicate a high quality first floor chamber over the lower end and there was also decorated plasterwork in the room over the inner room. The hall passage and lower end have been raised and re-fronted in stone, probably in the C19. The lower end has been reduced in size with a narrow unheated room created, parallel to the passage, possibly also in the C19. A small detached building south-east of the house was used as a detached kitchen as recently as the 1940s. This building is very altered and difficult to date but it is possible that there was no kitchen in the main range until the mid C20. The outbuilding adjoining at the left end has a lower roofline and some evidence of rebuilding or extension on the rear wall. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5 window south front plus 3 windows to the outbuilding at the left end. The stone block at the right end has a gabled proch to the cross passage with benches with oak seats and a good C17 inner stud and plank front door in a chamfered frame. 4 first floor 4-pane C19 sashes, 2 similar sashes to the left of the porch, 1 to the right. To the left of the stone block a lower- roofed block has 1 first floor and 1 ground floor 3-light small pane casement and 4 bee boles. The outbuilding, adjoining at the left, has 3 ground floor casements and 2 bee boles. The rear elevation has C20 casement windows. The stack is gabled to the rear below the chimney shaft and has a small rectangular projection adjacent to it which appears to be a bread oven but is said to have contained a kitchen range. The outbuilding, to the right has a large doorway with a C19 segmental brick arch and a smaller doorway into a lean-to adjoining at the right end. Interior: The hall (centre room) has a good set of chamfered crossbeams supported on timber corbels on the south side. C20 hall fireplace probably concealing earlier jambs, earlier lintel said to be fire-damaged. The inner room has a rough crossbeam. The lower end room has a chamfered axial beam and C20 fireplace, possibly concealing an earlier lintel and jambs. A good C17 plank and stud door with strap hinges gives access to the store room created out of the width of the lower end room - it is probably the original lower end door. A curious feature on the ground floor is a cupboard, within the width of the original lower end room but now outside it and adjacent to the south wall. The cupboard is heavily sooted inside and seems to have been a curing chamber but is not associated with an existing stack. Roof: In the roofspace the remains of decorated plaster work survive on the cross wall above the lower end partition of the passage on the east side. A plaster frieze and motifs including a stylized lion rampant are preserved and the remains of a cornice. The room over the inner room formerly retained plaster decoration; scattered motifs on the walls (information from tenant). The roof timbers have been considerably renewed.

Listing NGR: SS7911027153

External Links

• Wikidata Q26456207

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Recommended Books

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  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
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  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
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  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
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