Description

KINGSTEIGNTON GAPPAH LANE
SX 87 NE
4/138 House adjoining Gappah Farmhouse
at the south west

II

House, disused at time of survey (1986). Early C16, remodelled in the C17; later
addition, probably of the C18. Rendered cob; tiled roof, gabled at ends (formerly
thatched); left end stack with red sandstone ashlar shaft, lateral stack to front
right wing.
The late medieval plan was an open hall house, probably of 3 rooms with the hall to
the left. In the C17 the right hand (inner) room was floored, jettying into the hall
and giving an open hall to the left and a storeyed block to the right. At a later
period in the C17 the hall was floored with high status carpentry detail and an axial
stack added at the left end, backing on to the passage. The passage and lower end no
longer exist and a C19 farmbuilding adjoins the hall at the left (lower) end. A 1
room plan addition was added to the inner room at an unknown date (purlins projecting
through the right end wall). This room was later reduced to a single-storey lean-to
and a subsequent 1 room plan addition was added in front of the lean-to addition
forming a front right wing at right angles to the main range with a lateral stack on
the right hand wall. This addition must originally have been 2 storeys but the floor
has disappeared at some stage and the room was in use in a single-storey form before
the building was vacated in circa 1978.
2 storey main range, single storey wing. 1 + 1 window front, the main range with a 3
plank front door to the former inner room, which now functions as a cross passage at
the extreme right of the main ranges, with a sloping canopy carried on a timber
bracket. 2 light first floor window with vertical glazing bars, 2 light ground floor
sliding sash with lapped glass. The wing to the right has 1 first floor and 1 ground
floor 3-light window with lapped glass.
Interior : Impressive and unusual carpentry details to the hall, which has 2 moulded
stopped cross beams, the moulding consisting of a hollow flanked by fillets. Between
the inner room partition and the right hand cross beam the joists have similar
mouldings and stops, the other joists are chamfered and stopped. The inner room
partition is faced with circa late C17 panelling, possibly re-used, and the joists of
the lower end project as a deep jetty and are rounded; C19 brick-lined fireplace,
possibly concealing earlier features. There is a good C17 or earlier chamfered
stopped doorway between the hall and the inner room. The inner room is very narrow
and contains a C19 stair with stick balusters. No access to the apex of the
roofspace at time of survey but the trusses are clearly crucks (probably jointed) and
a smoke-blackened rafter is visible behind the plasterwork. The single storey right
hand room is plastered and papered up to the roof trusses with a cove in the left
hand wall.
An evolved house of medieval origins and considerable survival of high quality
carpentry. The best, moulded joists are reserved for the higher end of the hall
indicating the status of that end of the room.

Listing NGR: SX8622177415

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26458954

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.

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