Description

CREWKERNE

ST4409 EAST STREET
876-1/7/72 (North side)
12/06/50 Merefield House

GV II*

House, now 2 dwellings. Dated 1661 and 1683; east wing (to
right of front) dated 1900; the central block is c1830, and
the west wing is late C19.
MATERIALS: coursed limestone rubble to the older wing, Ham
Hill stone ashlar to the C19 blocks; slate roof with stone
stacks.
PLAN: roughly L-shape plan, with mid C17 block to the rear
right, the 1683 block stepped forward to the front right, the
c1830 block to the centre and the late C19 block to the far
left; the wing of c1900 projects forward from the C17 ranges
to the right.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; attics to the C17 wings; the late C19
wing is single-storey. The main entrance is in the c1830
facade to the central block. This is a symmetrical 3-window
range. The moulded cornice extends over the coping of the
older, lower, wing to the right, almost at ridge-level; the
first-floor is articulated by 4 shallow, panelled pilasters
flanking 8/8-pane sashes with moulded architraves, floating
cornices and panelled aprons resting on a platband, into which
a shallow pediment is cut over the door, and the lower edge
has a roll-moulding; steps up to the segmental recessed porch,
which has free-standing fluted Doric columns to the sides and
a 6-panel door, remodelled c1900 with leaded glazing to the
top and to the large overlight; flanked by large mid C20
French windows.
The right-hand range has 3 gables facing east: that to the
rear, probably rebuilt with a shallower pitched roof than the
others, has a central gable stack and a datestone of 1661. The
2 gables to the front are 2 storeys with attics and
hollow-moulded stone-mullioned casements under label moulds,
2-light to the attics and 3-light below; between the gables is
an external stack. The front of this wing, facing north, also
has stone-mullioned casements with c1900 decorative leading,
and two datestones, 1683 and 1900.
The west wing, now a separate dwelling, is single-storey, with
a parapet wall over a large canted bay occupying the whole
front. Mid C18 panelled door to rear.
INTERIOR: The roof of the mid C17 central unit of the rear
right wing is a 2-bay A frame with trenched purlins; the
fireplace in the lateral stack has a Tudor-arched stone
lintel. The rear unit has a former open fireplace, both have
stone-flagged floors. The mid C19 unit retains reeded moulding
to the cornices, elliptical recesses and 6-panel doors. The
late C19 west wing also retains panelling and 4-panel doors.
A fine house, which groups with a fine set of entrance gates
and walls (qv) and a gazebo (qv) set in its original garden. A
notable group.

Listing NGR: ST4427709854

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17554198

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

• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover