Description

YARCOMBE
ST 20 NE
8/171 North Waterhayne Farmhouse
22.2.55
- II*
Farmhouse. Early C16 with major later C16 and C17 improvements, mid - late C19
extension, modernised circa 1970. Roughcast cob on local stone rubble footings;
stone rubble stacks topped with C20 brick; concrete tile roof, formerly thatch.
Plan and development: L-plan house. The main block faces south-south-west, say
south, and is built down a gentle hillslope. It has a 4-room-and-through-passage
plan. Uphill at the left (west) end is a parlour with a gable-end stack. There was
formerly a small unheated inner room between the parlour and hall but the hall has
been enlarged by removing the partition between the hall and inner room. This inner
room was probably a buttery or cellar. The hall has an axial stack backing onto the
passage. The other side of the passage is an unheated service room, formerly a
pantry and dairy. A 1-room plan kitchen block projects at right angles to rear of
the service end pantry and dairy. It has a gable-end stack.
The original early C16 house was the 3-room-and-through-passage plan section of the
main block. The fourth room, the parlour, is a mid-late C19 extension. Originally
the house was open to the roof from end to end, divided by low partitions and heated
by an open hearth fire. Around the mid C16 the small inner room was floored over
and it seems that the chamber had ladder access from then open hall. Next the hall
fireplace was inserted, probably in the mid - late C16, and the passage and service
end room floored over. The hall was floored over in the early or mid C17, probably
at the same time that the kitchen block was built.
The farmhouse is 2 storeys.
Exterior: irregular 4-window front of mostly C20 iron-framed casements with glazing
bars although the first floor right window is timber and contains rectangular panes
of leaded glass (there are more similar to rear). The passage front doorway is
towards the right end and it contains a C20 part-glazed plank door behind a
contemporary porch. The roof is gable-ended to left; it steps down over the passage
and is hipped to right.
Interior: the service end of the main block shows no carpentry detail. It is said
to have a flag floor which slopes downhill so that it drains easily when washed
down. In the hall the fireplace is blocked although its large size is apparent.
The ceiling is a good example of an intersecting beam ceiling; 6 panels with richly-
moulded beams. The upper end screen (to the former inner room) has been removed and
no carpentry is exposed in the former inner room. On the first floor the partition
between hall and inner room chambers is oak-framed and is said to contain a small
arch-headed doorway which was provided for ladder access to the inner room chamber
from the open hall. Alongside the chimneybreast there is a C17 oak doorframe with
chamfered surround from the hall chamber to the passage chamber. The original roof
is intact except for the hip structure over the service end. It is carried on side-
pegged jointed crucks and the truss which was cut through by the hall chimneys tack
has chamfered arch-bracing. The structure is all smoke-blackened from the original
open hearth fire.
In the kitchen no crossbeam is exposed and the fireplace is blocked although its
large size is apparent. There was once a newel stair rising alongside to left. On
the first floor there is a garderobe complete with its oak seat and lid in the outer
front corner. The 2-bay roof is carried on a side-pegged jointed cruck truss. The
parlour extension of the main block has only C19 detail.
An earlier house here was probably the home of John Atte Watere in 1333.
Source: Devon SMR.

Listing NGR: ST2557508317

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17547074

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

• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability