Description

BUCKFASTLEIGH

SX7366 CHAPEL STREET
1011-1/6/49 (South side)
06/01/83 Nos.26-29 (Consecutive)

GV II*

Row of 4 cottages with tenter loft, for drying cloth, on the
upper storey. Late C17 or early C18. Painted local grey
limestone rubble, weatherboarded loft, right end of loft
rendered, left end brick; slate roof half-hipped at ends,
stacks with rendered and stone rubble shafts.
Plan: single-depth cottages with 2 rear lateral stacks.
Single-storey rear outshuts associated with rear yard walls.
The tenter loft, a very unusual survival in Devon, was used
for drying cloth slowly, stretched on tenterhooks, with
louvres that could be adjusted according to the weather.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys plus tenter loft. Asymmetrical front with
4 first- and 8 ground-floor windows. The 3 right-hand cottages
(Nos 26-28) are double-fronted. Each has a central
ovolo-moulded doorframe. Nos 26 & 27 have half-glazed C20
timber front doors, the front door to No.28 is partly covered
but may be a 2-panel early C18 door; bootscraper to No.28.
Ground-floor windows are late C19 or early C20 four-pane
timber horned sashes. Single centre first-floor window to each
cottage is a 3-light casement, 2 panes per light, with timber
lintels.
No.29 has similar details but the doorway, to the left, is
slightly wider with a door of 3 over 3 vertical panels;
bootscraper. There are 2 ground-floor windows alongside to the
right, similar first-floor window. The tenter loft is divided
into bays by vertical planks with intermediate, narrow
bead-moulded studs. Double loft doorway at right end of front.
Angled fascia board below eaves; cast-iron rainwater goods.
INTERIOR: No.26 inspected. Modernised. Tenter loft has tie
beam truss with king post tenoned in and diagonal struts
projecting from king post. Modern plaster ceiling obscures
upper part of roof. Several tenterhooks, like small cup hooks,
survive. Wall-framing has main studs pegged in and slender
diagonal braces.
Historical note: tenter lofts survive in Exeter, on the Quay
(converted to housing) and in Ashburton. Material evidence of
the wool industry of any period is surprisingly rare in Devon,
given its economic importance in the C17 and C18. A rare
example, on a national scale, of a combination type of
building, representative of the pre-factory or outwork phase
of the industry, with cottages and tentering loft.

Listing NGR: SX7379766127

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17535877

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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