Description

BUCKLAND MONACHORUM BUCKLAND MONACHORUM SX 46 NE 3/56 Cuxton Farmhouse 21.3.67

GV II*

Farmhouse. Circa late C16/early C17 origins extended, re-fronted and re-modelled internally in 1693. C19 additions. Stone rubble walls at rear and sides, faced in small ashlar blocks at the front. Where the roof has been raised the walls have been built up in rubble above the ashlar. Hipped slate roof. 2 rear rubble lateral stacks and one to side of each wing. Originally probably 3-room and through passage plan, lowered end to the right, the hall and lower room heated by rear lateral stacks. In 1693 the house was extended and considerably remodelled; the quality of construction and interior fittings and the up to date design and features possibly reflected a rise in the social or financial standing of the occupants. A wing was added at the front of each end each consisting of a heated panelled room, the left-hand one at the higher end considerably smaller. Both were probably intended as parlours, the larger one possibly for entertaining guests, with the size of the left-hand room suggestive more of a room for the family to withdraw into. Behind the smaller left-hand wing the inner room was converted to dairy/service room. The house may have been extended slightly at the lower end at this stage to incorporate a staircase, with small service room behind, beyond the lower room. The larger parlour was added in front of the stairs and lower half of the lower room. An outbuilding wing was added at the rear at either end in the C19. 2 storeys. Almost symmetrical 3-bay 4-window front with wing projecting to front from each end, the right-hand one projecting further. 2-light wooden cross mullion- transom windows with small panes - one to front of left-hand wing and 3 to central recessed bay. There is also a ground floor window on the inner face of the left- hand wing which is a single light probably C19 casement. The right-hand wing has had an early C19 16-pane hornless sash inserted on the ground floor where originally there were 2 cross mullion-transomed windows. 2 cross mullion-transomed windows survive on the first floor of this wing. The ground floor window to the left of the door still has its original frame of 1693. The central first floor window, that to the right on the ground floor and to the front of the left-hand wing have C20 casements. The other windows are C19 with H-L hinges. At centre of recessed front is heavy ovolo-moulded doorframe of 1693 which has a carved griffin's head at the centre of the lintel. C20 gabled porch hood supported on ornately carved woden brackets are probably contemporary to doorframe. Stringcourse above ground floor windows which incorporates a projecting stone above the keystone in the flat arch of the window below. The windows on the 1st floor also have flat arches with keystones. Rusticated quoins to each corner and to centre of recessed section which breaks forward slightly. A leanto against the front of the right-hand wing has a blocked 4-centred arched granite doorway in its left-hand wall. Left-hand end wall of house has 2-light hollow chamfered mullion window on ground floor. The window above it has the vestige of a wooden ovolo-moulded 2-light mullion window frame which has had a C20 casement inserted into it. At the rear a C19 outbuilding wing projects from each side. At the centre is a 4-centred granite arched doorway, chamfered with ball stops. To its right is a wooden 2-light mullion window, chamfered, with iron stanchion bars. Both window and doorway date from the earlier build of the house. Interior contains features from both main periods. The room to the right of the passage has a granite framed fireplace with straight lintel and continuous roll moulding dating from the earlier build of the house. A central chamfered crossbeam probably dates from the same period. The open well staircase at the end of this room dates from the remodelling in 1693 and has square newels with ball finials, heavy turned balusters and a closed string. The room to the front of the staircase has a bolection moulded fireplace with pilasters above. The panelling of the room is not bolection moulded but simply recessed with a moulded chair rail and a fairly heavy cornice. The smaller parlour at the front of the left-hand side has a bolection moulded panel above a recent chimneypiece with the date 1693, there is a similar cornice to the panelled room. It is likely that this room was also originally panelled judging from Copeland's report of a visit in 1952 in which he refers to panelled rooms. On the first floor 2 rooms have bolection moulded chimneypieces. In one there is a probably contemporary cupboard with panelled doors and cocks-head hinges. The importance of this house lies not only in the good quality internal features and very unaltered facade of 1693 but in its significance as a farmhouse remodelled in a relatively pretentious way to reflect the onset of classical influence in vernacular architecture in Devon.

Listing NGR: SX4874168261

External Links

• Wikidata Q17537642

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Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)