43, FORE STREET

Details

CHUDLEIGH FORE STREET (west side), Chudleigh SX 8679 6/59 No 43 23.8.55

GV II

House. Circa early C16 origins, remodelled in the circa late C16, again in the circa early C18 and extended to the rear and refronted in the C19. Stone, cob and stud walls, colourwashed and plastered; mansard slate roof end on to the street; lateral stack on left hand wall. Complex evolution. Surviving evidence suggests that the present building was part of an early C16 house parallel to Fore Street but with a floor level considerably below the level of the present street. A plank and muntin screen, partly at basement and partly at first floor level survives from this phase. Plastered over on the exterior, the screen now forms part of the right hand wall of the building but was probably originally an internal partition in a house that was 2 or 3 rooms wide. In the circa later C16 a substantial remodelling and alteration to the floor levels occurred, relegating a portion of the plank and muntin screen to the basement, and giving a 2 room deep plan. It is not clear when the house was reduced to a 1 room wide plan, losing 1 or 2 rooms at the right end and re-roofed at right angles to the street, but this probably took place before or co-eval with the insertion of a grand circa late C17 re-used stair. In the C19 the house was extended to the rear and refronted. The present plan, end on to the street, is 1 room wide and 3 rooms deep with the stair cell in the centre. 2 storeys and attic. 1 window front to main range with a single-storey flat-roofed entrance block, slightly set back, adjoining at the right end. The entrance block is largely C20 with a flush panel door, flat porch canopy and rectangular fanlight. The main block has a dentil cornice and a 2 storey canted bay with slightly recessed canted bay windows ; 12 panes to the centre light and 8 panes to the flanking lights. Interior Several features of interest. The remains of an early C16 plank and muntin screen, now forming part of the right hand wall of the house, with chamfered muntins, with runout stops at the top(lower stops decayed). Abutting the screen on the present ground floor, a post is mortised into a chamfered cross beam with step stops. Dogleg stair with vase balusters, 2 flights and a landing, is clearly re-used at considerable labour. The balusters to the top landing have egg and dart capitals and laurel'wreath bases. The handrail may originally have had ball finals. In the rear room on the ground floor an iron post supporting the ceiling may indicate the position of the rear wall of the original house. A rounded wall in the cellar suggests the position of a former newel stair dating from the C16 phase. 1 good first floor early C19 iron grate with decoration. An intriguing evolved house with a fine stair.

Listing NGR: SX8664279406

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

85315

Legacy System:

LBS

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