Description

KINGS NYMPTON KINGS NYMPTON
SS 62 SE
1/120 Higher Wampford Farmhouse
- II
Farmhouse, now divided into 2 occupations. Probably early C16 fabric to front wing,
main range probably late C17 or early C18, with C19 alterations. Main range
unrendered stone rubble with cob to rear. Thatch roof with gable ends. Tall rear
lateral stone rubble hall stack. Brick stack at right end and stone rubble stack
towards left end. Front wing at left end of painted stone rubble and cob with
asbestos slate roof, hipped at front end. Capped stone rubble stack at front end,
and C20 brick ridge stack.
Plan: overall L-shaped plan, consisting of main range of 3 rooms and cross-passage
plan with front wing at left end, incorporating early core, later used as
outbuildings but now in process of reconversion to dwellings. Complex development.
The early core is in fact situated at the front end of the wing, the capped stack
being the remains of a front lateral stack added to a former open hall house which
originally ran parallel with the main range. Until circa 1980 2 jointed cruck
trusses survived which were smoke-blackened, but the range has now been entirely
reroofed following the direction of the rest of the wing's roof structure. Both ends
of the former hall have been rebuilt, making it uncertain whether originally there
was a lower end and inner room, so that all that survives of the early core is the
front wall, with hall-bay to left of former front lateral stack and probable blocked
through-passage doorway to right, the rear wall and the post of a jointed cruck
truss. The hall, to judge by the scratch-moulded joists, was floored in the C17,
probably at the same time as the rear kitchen/service wing was added which would have
formed an overall T-shaped plan. The kitchen wing contains floor timbers probably
re-used from the remainder of the farmhouse. At a late date, either in the C18 or
C19, the range was converted for use as farm buildings, external stone steps being
added to service the first floor granary over the former kitchen wing. This may have
occurred at the same time as the new range, which forms the present principal
dwelling, was built, but the possibility that 2 separate farmhouses co-existed for a
time cannot be dismissed. The later range is of standard 3-room and cross-passage
type, with lower end to right and staircase in the cross-passage. Cooking was
originally done in the hall, but probably in the C19 the main range and front wing
were connected by the addition of a kitchen at the left end of the main range which
is heated by the stack backing onto the former left gable end wall of the main range.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Main range has 4-window range, all C19 2-light casements. 6
panes per light. Ground floor has 2 C19 3-light casements, 6 panes per light and C20
2-light 3 panes at left end. 2 gabled slate porch canopy roofs with shaped
bargeboards and 4 panelled doors. Wing has C20 fenestration except for small 4-light
ovolo mullion with pintles for shutters and long narrow single light window opening
with original shutter to rear.
Interior: main range has C19 joinery including principally 3-panelled ledged doors
with original H-L hinges surviving throughout. 3 trusses with straight rough
principals and lapped collars. Wing has 2 chamfered cross ceiling beams to original
hall with scratch-moulded joists. Kitchen wing to rear has 3 chamfered cross beams,
probably reused and old joists, 7 of which have roll-mouldings and a section of
heavily moulded beam has also been reused as a joist.

Listing NGR: SS6949122327

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26400534

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

• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)