Listing Text

BARNSTAPLE

SS5534 BELLAIRE, Pilton
684-1/2/315 (North side (off))
31/12/73 Fairfield and Fairmead

GV II

2 houses, originally built as one. 1827 (Reed). Stuccoed, rear
partly slate-hung; slate roofs; stacks with short brick shafts
and old pots. Main block flanked by lower-roofed wings on the
same axis.
Centre block 3 storeys with a gabled slate roof; 2-storey left
and right wings, roofs hipped at ends. Symmetrical
1:3:1-window range with front doors into the wings. Deep eaves
with projecting rafter ends; main block has 7-bay verandah on
cast-iron columns. Round-headed doorways with pilastered
architraves; 2-leaf half-glazed front doors with plain
overlights. First-floor windows to wings and second-floor
windows to main block are 12-pane sashes with margin panes.
Ground floor of main block rusticated with French windows with
margin panes. Verandah has pretty cast-iron balustrade with
spider's-web panels. First floor of main block has 3 French
windows, similar to ground floor, with stuccoed voussoirs
(right-hand missing). Rear elevation partly slate-hung with
very tall round-headed stair window.
INTERIOR: Fairfield partially inspected. The wing has a fine,
cast-iron eliptical cantilevered stair.
HISTORICAL NOTE: according to Reed the house was advertised to
let as `nearly finished' in 1827, when it was called Broadgate
Villa. The name had changed to Fairfield by 1918. It was the
home of the Munro family from 1872 and HH Munro, the author
`Saki' was brought up here by his grandmother and 2 maiden
aunts. His book The Square Egg, published 1924 with a
biographical note by his sister, describes life at Broadgate
Villa in the 1870s and 1880s (Reed, p162).
(Reed MA: Pilton, its Past and Present: Barnstaple: 1985-:
159-60).

Listing NGR: SS5532634263