Description

NORTH BOVEY
SX 78 SW
4/188 Bowden Farmhouse
-
GV II*

Farmhouse, originally longhouse. Circa late C15 with late C16/early C17
modifications and C19 alterations. Constructed partly of granite rubble, partly of
granite ashlar. The ashlar is concentrated towards the centre of the front wall and
at the lower gable end although the top of the gable is granite rubble. Granite
rubble stack slightly set in from lower (right) gable end with drip-mould and drip-
course, probably C19. Granite block central axial stack off-set from ridge with
drip-moulds. Rendered stack to higher gable end, probably brick. Slate roof with
gable ends.
Originally longhouse plan of shippon, through passage, hall and inner room, open to
the roof from end to end with low partitions and central hearth in hall. Floored-in
probably in early C17 and stack inserted in hall backing onto passage. Shippon
converted to domestic accommodation probably in C19 at which time stack also
inserted at higher end.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 5-window front all C20 3-light casement with glazing bars
except for ground and first floor left which are 2-light. Door to through passage
to right of centre C20 part glazed, in C20 porch with gabled roof. Door into inner
room to left, C20 part glazed in lean-to stone porch. At rear, passage doorway to
left of centre has been narrowed. To right of it on first floor is 2-light wood
mullioned window to stairs. Chamfered on the inside, containing old glass. At
lower gable end is central drain opening at ground level.
Interior contains 3 high quality medieval roof trusses over shippon, hall and
partition to inner room. The 2 lower ones are jointed crucks with very pronounced
curve and chamfered on either side. The third has a straight principal to the rear,
equally substantial. All are smoke-blackened as is the ridge which has been
trenched in by means of splitting each truss at the top then pegging it back
together. Threaded purlins. The 2 lower trusses have strengthening blocks beneath
their apexes which are also chamfered, the one over the hall is considerably
smaller. The higher end truss has had a partition constructed under it and appears
to have no strengthening block. The 2 higher trusses have a high cambered collar
morticed into the trusses and chamfered both on the soffit and the top. Hall has
granite framed fireplace with massive undecorated lintel and splayed jambs roughly
chamfered.
Oven in right-hand side. Cross beam with quite narrow chamfer, stops worn.
Partially exposed hall beam at higher end with deep chamfer, a partition has been
built up underneath it. The inner room has a double C19 fireplace with segmental
brick arches, one originally contained the copper, the other the range.
Although the shippon has been converted in this longhouse, it still retains proof of
its identity and the survival of all 3 original trusses is fairly unusual in a
longhouse as is the form of jointed cruck and its apex and the simple decoration to
the timbers.

Listing NGR: SX7259983756

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17534786

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

• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House