Description

SWIMBRIDGE YARNACOTT
SS 63 SW
8/218 Middle Yarnacott

II

Farmhouse. Probably late C15 remodelled in C16 and again in C17 with alterations
1976/1977. Painted rendered cob and stone. Thatch roof with gable ends. Tall
lateral hall stack with offsets, small ridge stack and tall narrow shaft to stack
across front right end. 3-room formerly open hall plan, but no evidence of a
cross-passage - probably therefore direct entry to hall. This may have been a true
longhouse, the shippon now converted to form part of dwelling. Stair turrets to
rear of hall and in small projection with thatched lean-to roof at right gable end.
2 storeys, the hall has been reopened to the roof, 5-window range. C19/C20
fenestration, three 2-light casements and a 4-light casement 2 panes per light.
Window of 3-light doorway over replaced, the original with round-headed lights
reset to interior rear wall of hall. Five 2-light casements to ground floor with a
4-paned single light at right end. C20 door. Hall window built out to 2 storey
height in line with stack, with small straight headed timber squint window to the
side wall.
Interior: ovolo-moulded ceiling beams (1 full beam and 2 half beams) to hall with
step stops with 2 bars flanking small roll. Inner room has chamfered beam and some
C18 panelled joinery. C17 chamfered and scroll-stopped surround to C17 doorcase.
Chamber over upper room has scroll-stopped lintel to fireplace with herringbone
style slated back to the hearth. 5 Barnstaple lead glazed tiles found set on edge
at back of fireplace are redisplayed in hall. Roof structure of a raised cruck
truss over hall between solid cob walls to apex of roof with cranked collar tenoned
into soffit mortices to the blades and 2 tiers of threaded purlins. 2 similar
trusses over byre end but with trenched purlins. Smoke blackening confined to hall
section only. Plank and muntin chamber screen to hall with evidence of position of
initial ladder access to chamber indicates phase of jettied chamber to lower end of
hall. Upper section of screen missing but mortices survive. Inner room with
chamber over probably added in C17.

Listing NGR: SS6231130796

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26595698

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

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)