Description

SS 21 NW MORWENSTOW MORWENSTOW

1/115 The Vicarage
29.9.61

GV II*

House, formerly vicarage. 1837. Designed for himself by the Rev. R S Hawker.
Stone rubble with dressings, slate roofs, stone chimneys. Gothick, described by
Hawker as "Old English" and loosely modelled on the first engraving of Hunt's
Designs for Parsonage Houses. Asymmetrical plan of rectangle containing parlour,
stair and kitchen, 2 projections to the south contain study and dining room, 2
further projections to north. Porch in south west corner between study and
parlour. 2 storeys. Gabled roofs; windows throughout Gothick with arched timber
lights, some under square-headed hoodmoulds with label stops. Windows vary between
1, 2, 3 and 4 lights with leaded panes and stained glass borders, some replacement
of glass and leading. 6 stacks, some projecting with eccentric crenellated and
pinnacled chimney shafts, designed by Hawker and said to be modelled on the church
towers of Stratton, Whitstone, North Tamerton. Kitchen chimney shaft modelled on
the tomb of Hawker's mother. Principal front, facing seawards has stepped gable
and 4-light ground floor bay window. First floor window 3-light with hoodmould and
label stops. 1 light casement in attic replaces former fixed light window. 2-
storey, flat-roofed porch with 4-centred arched doorway under square-headed
hoodmould with label stops. Inscribed slate above doorway reads "A house, a glebe,
a pound a day,/ A pleasant place to watch and pray, Be true to church, be kind to
poor,/ A minister for ever more/, referring to the fact that the living was worth
£365 p.a. when Hawker arrived. Arched 4-panel front door with studded rails.
Interior. Panelled doors, some under panelled, studded soffits. Early C19
fireplaces to study and dining room. Early C19 stair with stick balusters and
ramped handrail has some Gothic revival detail. Rear service stair with stick
balusters. The Reverend R S Hawker, churchman, poet and philanthropist of note was
vicar of Morwenstow 1834-1875. He described the building of the vicarage in
letters to the Reverend H T Ellacombe, explaining that he wanted an ecclesiastical
not a "Shoppy Residence". The interior of the vicarage in 1873 was described in
The Standard. Tennyson visited Hawker at the vicarage in 1848 and discussed his
plans for an Arthurian poem with the vicar.
C E Byles, Life and Letters of R S Hawker (1905).
Country Life, May 29, 1958; June 26, 1958.

Listing NGR: SS2058815362

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17556015

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.

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