Description

KINGSTEIGNTON
SX 87 NE
4/101 Babcombe Manor
23.8.55
II*

House, formerly manor house, divided into 2 tenancies. Circa mid C16, remodelled in
the circa mid C17. Stone rubble with some remnants of old render; slate roof (slates
renewed to front of ridge, scantle slates to rear) with some early crested ridge
tiles, gabled at ends; front lateral stack with tall stone shaft, gable end stacks,
the right end stack slightly projecting.
3 room and through passage plan, the hall heated from the front lateral stack, a
small inner room, and a large lower end to the right. Evidence suggests that a C16
high quality house has been remodelled and thoroughly refurbished in the circa mid
C17, retaining some granite windows from the earlier phase. There are indications of
a former building adjoining the lower end. A rear outbuilding, at right angles to
the main range is clearly a post C17 addition cutting through the hoodmould of a C17
window.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 2:1:1 window front with an approximately central, gabled 2-
storey porch with a chamfered granite outer doorway with stops. The inner doorframe
is moulded with urn stops and a wide plank front door. The 3-light casement to the
room above the porch has a moulded architrave, mullions and 3 panes per light. The
front lateral stack projects slightly and abuts the porch to the left. A 3-light
casement with timber ovolo-moulded mullions lighting the hall, to the left of the
stack, has a moulded granite architrave with a hoodmould with floral-carved label
stops. Ground floor window left, lighting the inner room, is a 4-light granite
mullioned window with chamfered mullions and a hoodmould with label stops. First
floor window left is a 3-light C18 or C19 casement with 8 panes per light, first
floor window from left is a 3-light casement with glazing bars. 2 windows to the
right of the porch both appear to have C20 embrasures; it is possible that the lower
end had no windows to the front in the C17.
The rear elevation has the rear door to the through passage in the centre with a
plank door and corrugated iron canopy carried on brackets. To the left of this a 6-
light casement (3 lights blocked) with 6-panes per light. The first floor window
above is a 4-light casement, 6 panes per light, with a king mullion. Ground floor
window right (formerly lighting the hall) is particularly interesting; originally an
8-light casement with a king mullion but the right hand light now blocked by the rear
left wing. The casements have 3-panes per light and a timber hoodmould with label
stops and unusually elaborate internal decoration (q.v.). The first floor window
above appears to have been similar on the exterior but has been partly blocked with a
C20 window inserted. A circa late C17 left gable end doorway with a door with
fielded panels with moulded surrounds gives access to the inner room.
Interior Remarkable survival of circa mid C17 interior features. A partition wall
has been inserted parallel with the rear wall of the hall, forming a narrow rear
passage or service room. Unfortunately this has separated the principal (rear)
window of the hall from the hall inself. The window is splendidly embellished with
moulded plaster standing proud of the mullions with geometric and floral motifs and a
richly decorated bracket in the centre. This showpiece window, associated with other
features in the hall is a notable survival. The partition between the hall and inner
room is a variatian on the plank and muntin screen with chamfered stopped muntins and
2 ledges, forming large robust panels. A plaster frieze above the screen has floral
and scroll ornament. A cross beam (which projects through the later partition into
the rear passage) has moulded plaster cornices. The screen to the passage has a 4-
centred oak door with a carved geometrical design and floral motifs in the spandrels.
On the passage side the screen has widely-spaced ovolo-moulded muntins, with plain
muntins between. The partition wall to the lower end has a good plank and stud
door. The lower end room has had a small kitchen inserted against the front wall
with a stair between the kitchen and screens passage. 1 moulded cross beam, much of
the moulding plastered over; C20 grate possibly concealing earlier features. A long
bench in the thickness of the rear wall below the formerly 6-light window. 2 first
floor ovolo-moulded doorways above the lower end, the doorway to the room over the
porch with urn stops. This room was formerly heated by a flue leading into the hall
stack. The doorway to the attic stairs has a good plank and stud door. The roof
trusses are of pegged collar rafter design, consistent with a late C17 or C18 date.
A fine house, relatively unaltered in the C19 and C20 preserving an important C17
hall with some outstanding features.
Documents relating to the house survive in the D.R.O.

Listing NGR: SX8674276935

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17534697

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

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)