Description

MANATON
SX 78 SW
4/13 Ford Farmhouse
-
28.8.55
II
GV

Farmhouse, originally a longhouse. Probably early C16, floored in circa 1600, rear
wing probably added mid-late C17. Remodelled in C18 and subsequent C20 additions
and alterations. Granite rubble walls rendered at the front. Gable end stacks to
main block and lateral stack to rear wing are rendered granite with drip-courses.
Axial stack to main block is granite rubble with moulded granite cap. Asbestos
slate roof, gable to left and upper end and wing at rear, hipped to right hand
lower end.
Plan of a house with a long and complex structural development. The lower end was
converted for domestic use in mid C20 from a shippon in which the cow standings
formerly survived and only an insubstantial wooden partition separated it fron the
through passage. A blocked ventilation slit exists on the first floor of the lower
gable end substantiating the evidence for an original shippon. The separate
external door to the lower room/shippon on the front wall of the house adjoining
the through passage door is also fairly typical of the developed longhouse form.
Above the lower room is a wide through passage adjoining which is the hall, with
stack backing onto the passage, which was originally open to the roof with a
central hearth. Beyond the hall is the inner room with a renewed solid partition,
originally there was a closed truss between the hall and inner room. When the hall
was ceiled and the fireplace inserted circa 1600 a newel staircase was put in at
the rear wall of the hall which has now been removed but the curved recess remains.
In mid-late C17 a rear kitchen wing was added behind the hall. In C18 the house
was refronted and the inner room given independant access and its own staircase to
the room above, so that it could be self-contained. The staircase and adjoining
partition to the hall have since been removed. Either at this stage or in the
early C19 a long dairy outshut was added at the rear of the through passage and
lower end. In the C20 a cart shed running parallel to the rear wing from the inner
room was converted to domestic use as was the shippon.
2 storeys. Almost regular 4-window front. At upper end of passage are 2 and 4-
light C18 casement windows with leaded panes. At the lower end are 4-light C20
casements without glazing bars, the first floor centre right is of 2 lights. Door
into upper end of hall (originally inner room) to left has C18 wooden cornice with
small row of dentils, C20 plank door. The door to through passage at right of
centre is probably late Cl7 plank door with 2 rows of studs, heavy strap hinges and
spy-hole; it is set in a wide chamfered oak doorway with depressed arch head. The
door is contained in a C19 rendered gabled porch with built-in seats either side.
Immediately to the right is the former doorway into the shippon now containing a
C20 glazed door. To far right is small single storey projecting C19/C20 addition,
originally pig-house, with large 2-light plate glass casement window. The left
hand gable end stack projects with offsets. To the rear of the hall is a
substantial wing with massive projecting lateral stack now contained in adjoining
extension. First floor right hand window on inner face of wing is 4-light C18
casement with leaded panes. Others are C20 casements. Adjoining wing single
storey.
Interior: despite alterations a number of early features survive. There are 3
original smoke-blackened roof trusses over the hall which have, however, been
somewhat mutilated by subsequent roof alterations. From the evidence of one they
are jointed crucks, they have threaded purlins and curved collars morticed into the
trusses with the one at the upper end of the hall showing stavore-holes for a
partition beneath. At the apex the trusses are morticed with the ridge pole
resting in a notch. No original common rafters or thatch survive. The rest of the
roof is C19/C20. The through passage is cobbled and the back of the fireplace
adjoining it is characteristically constructed of dressed granite blocks with a
coved cornice marking the original height of the passage. The hall contains a
very large granite-framed fireplace with massive granite lintel, slightly cambered,
which has a hollow chamfer. Rough monolithic jamb to the left. In the right hand
side of the fireplace is an oven, with a 3-centred arched stone opening, stone
sides and floor but a brick roof. The room contains 3 cross beams with broad
chamfers and evidence on one of hollow step stops. The window has 2-panelled
shutters to either side. The inner room has one roughly chamfered cross beam which
has been hacked for plaster. The rear wing contains a straight run framed
staircase and one large room which has a very wide fireplace with chamfered
voussoir segmental arch.
This is a good example of a substantial C16 farmhouse with an interesting
development pattern and containing in particular 2 good granite fireplaces, the
voussoir arch fireplace being an unusual early example. The house also forms part
of an especially interesting and well-preserved farm complex linking the house to
the stable is a granite rubble garden wall incorporating a mounting block which is
climbed from the garden side.

Listing NGR: SX7322981141

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26389510

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

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)