Description

DUNCHIDEOCK
SX 88 NE

3/11
- Lyalls Cottage

GV II

House. Circa early C16 origins, remodelled in the circa late C16, partial rebuilding,
possibly of the C18, C20 alterations. Stone rubble and cob, the front elevation and
the rear of the higher (left) end whitewashed and rendered, the rest of the rear
elevation unrendered stone rubble; thatched roof to main range, half-hipped at left
end, hipped at right end; front lateral stack with tall rendered shaft,axial stack
with paired brick shafts, small additional chimney with brick shaft on front at
extreme left.
The present plan is a single depth main range, 4 rooms wide, with a cross passage to
left of centre. At the right (lower) end there is a small wing at right angles to
the front of the main range containing a C19 stair. The original plan was an open
hall house, although not enough visible evidence at time of survey (1985) to
establish how extensive the medieval house was. In spite of the position of the
present cross passage, which suggests that the left end of the house was the lower
end, the site slopes from the left down to right and it seems likely that the
original passage no longer exists and was to right of centre, giving a 3 room plan
with the inner room to the left, with a rounded rear stair turret to the inner room.
The hall is heated by the front lateral stack, the putative lower end by the axial
stack (formerly gable end), the putative inner room heated by the front left stack
which is probably a C20 addition. C20 alterations have included re-siting the hall
screen (which is at the lower end), making the hall slightly smaller: a second screen
is said to have been removed.
2 storeys. Irregular 5 window front, the eaves thatch eyebrowed over the first floor
windows. Front door to present cross passage to left of centre with a C20 porch with
a tiled roof; approximately central projecting front lateral stack with tall shaft.
Fenestration of 2- and 3- light casements,C19 and C20, with glazing bars except for 1
C18 window on the first floor to the right of the stack which is a 3-light casement
with square leaded panes and HL hinges. The rear elevation has a C20 thatched porch
and doorway which may indicate the position of the original passage. However,
adjacent to the rounded stair turret of the inner room a blocked doorway is opposed
to the front door of the present cross passage.
Interior: The outstanding feature of the interior is the plank and muntin sreen at
the lower end of the hall. The screen has been moved and the position of the doorway
altered involving the re-siting of some, perhaps all, of the planks and muntins
relative to the head beam but there is a remarkable survival of circa early C16
painted decoration with floral designs on both planks,muntins and head beam and 1
figure, probably an ecclesiastic with a mitre and hands raised in blessing. The hall
fireplace has brecchia ashlar jambs and a timber lintel. To the right of the hall
the (putative) lower end room has a cross beam with straight cut stops and exposed
joists. The position of a first floor partition indicates that the first floor right
hand room originally jettied into the hall. The principal rafters are boxed in and
the roofspace is only partially accessible (time of survey,1985) but the apex of one
smoke-blackened roof truss is visible over the hall.
In spite of the uncertainty about the original plan of Lyalls Cottage it is clearly a
late medieval house of high status with an outstanding survival in the painted hall
screen.

Listing NGR: SX8811886262

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26618961

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

• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)