Description

KENN
SX 98 SW

5/130 Bickham House
11.11.52

GV II*

Country house. Early C18 core, remodelled and extended in the early C19. The
earlier fabric is cob on stone rubble footings, the early C19 sandstone, all
colourwashed and plastered ; slate roof behind parapet, gableted and half-
hipped to the early block ; stacks with brick shafts.
Plan: The high quality C18 house was east-facing, probably with a central
entrance into a stair hall. The remodelling took place both within the shell
of the C18 house and extended it, and the present plan is that of the early
C19; the main block 3 rooms wide ; double depth; with a central entrance into a
heated hall, a full depth principal room to the left, a dining room that
projects to the front at the right, a service range at the extreme right and
the early C18 stair retained to the rear of the entrance hall but partitioned
off from it. The early C19 interior is very intact.
Exterior: 2 storeys and attic. Asymmetrical east front with a moulded cornice
below the parapet the bow-fronted dining room projecting to the front at the
right end of the main block ; 4 windows above a portico to the left of the
projection ; 5 window front to the service block, set back at the right end.
To the left the ground floor, blind except for the front door, is recessed
behind a 7-bay Tuscan portico, the columns paired on either side of the front
door and at the left end, the portico returning for 4 bays at the left. Wide
panelled C19 front door with glazed panels to left and right of the door and a
rectangular fanlight with diamond glazing bars ; first floor C19 and C20 sash
windows with glazing bars. The dining room, to the right, has 3 large 12-pane
sash windows. The service block, at the extreme right has five first floor
and 3 ground floor windows, mostly large small-pane early C19 sashes. The left
return of the main block has 3 early C19 2-leaf transomed French windows with
glazing bars behind the portico, one first floor sash and 2 blind windows.
The rear elevation of the main block incorporates part of the rear wall of the
early C18 house with deep coved eaves, a central pediment with an oeil-de-boeuf
and a large round-headed stair window with glazing bars, the other windows are
sashes with glazing bars except an early C20 bay window, ground floor right.
The service block, to the left, retains its early C19 sashes and rear service
door.
Interior: Early C18 features include the open string stair with turned
balusters and wall panelling ; good panelled doors, some on the ground floor,
numerous on the first floor with more modest 2 panel doors on the attic
storey. The early C19 interior features include good marble chimneypiece,
plaster cornices and shutters. A handsome evolved country house, the seat of
the Short family, described in 1822 as "now of Bickham, in Kenne" (Lysons).
The house was illustrated by Swete in 1795.

Lysons, D. and S., Magna Britannia, vol. VI: Devonshire vol I, p. 154.

Swete, 'Picturesque sketches of Devon', vol 11 (1795). MS held by the Devon
Record Office.

Listing NGR: SX9151684364

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536056

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

• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House