Description

SS 72 SW BISHOP'S NYMPTON

5/26 Slew House, shown as Slough on the
- the OS map

II

Former farmhouse. Late medieval origins with late C18 and early C19 remodelling.
Rendered cob on stone rubble footings; slate roof to the front of the ridge,
corrugated asbestos to the rear (formerly thatched), gabled at ends; end stacks and
an axial stack, projecting rear lateral stack with a C19 brick shaft.
Plan: Approximately T plan: a single depth south-facing main range, 4 rooms wide,
with 1 room plan wings adjoining at the front and rear left (west). The house
originated as a late medieval open hall which extended from the left (west) end of
the main range for at least 3 bays. Refurbishment and remodelling of the C18 and C19
has obscured any visible evidence of the C17, thus the date at which the open hall
house was floored remains conjectural and although the present plan includes 2
entrances on the south side, both into passages with stairs, it is not clear whether
either of these correspond to a late C16 or C17 through or cross passage. The roof
over the left (west) end room appears to have been rebuilt and raised in the C18, re-
using some sooted medieval timbers and a Georgian recess and 2-panel doors indicates
considerable refurbishment at this date, the left hand room probably functioning as
the kitchen. The two left hand wings, front and rear, are probably early C19, a
breakfast or morning room to the front and a large dairy to the rear. A heated
service room at the extreme right (east) end of the range is probably a C19 addition,
with access to the kitchen and dairy via the rear outshut which has since been
divided into smaller rooms.
Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 6-bay front with 2 C20 doors, one into a passage
containing the stair to left of centre, one into a passage adjacent to a second stair
to right of centre; between these doors 2 early C19 French windows with margin
glazing. The 2 windows on the inner return of the front left wing and 2 first and 1
ground floor window at the left end of the main range are C19 timber sashes, all the
other windows are C20 timber casements.
Interior: No exposed carpentry. The left hand room has an open fireplace with a
timber lintel, the chamfer and stops are 1980s. The parlour, to the right of the
kitchen, has a Georgian segmental arched wall recess. There is a good set of C18 2-
panel doors, including a wide door at the rear of the right hand passage.
Roof: 3-bays of a late medieval smoke-blackened roof survive, including 2 main
trusses, with a diagonally-set ridge, mortised collars and trenched purlins. The
roof formerly extended over the left hand bay of the house but has been rebuilt in
the C18 re-using medieval sooted purlins and some rafters and battens. The smoke-
blackened roof does not extend over the second room from the left but this end of the
roof was not inspected at time of survey and it was not clear whether it originally
extended further to the east than at present. An unexplained feature of the roof is
a heavily sooted section of timber of large scantling above the purlin pegged on to
the back of the rafters to the rear of the ridge. This may have been connected with
smoke escape during the open hall phase of the house.
The kitchen range from Slew House is now in the South Molton museum (information from
owner).
A traditional house of medieval origins.

Listing NGR: SS7489524538

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26611053

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

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)