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Summary

School, formerly church house, probably circa early C16 origins, much altered subsequently.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1097676: KENTON SCHOOL

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX98SE/10

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CHURCH HOUSE (XVI - 1501 AD to 1600 AD (Between))
• SCHOOL (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

'School formerly Church House' shown.

Pearson, J. B., 1900, Church Houses in Devon, 210 (Article in Serial). SDV5752.

A building on this site was once a poorhouse.

Ordnance Survey, 1953 - 1969, Ordnance Survey Six Inch Map (Cartographic). SDV340358.

'School' shown to south of church, not north-west.

Copeland, G. W., 1963, Devonshire Church Houses: Part 4, 145 (Article in Serial). SDV7678.

There are no apparent remains of the building Pearson describes. It may have stood at the north-west corner of the churchyard where now a modern school stands.

McCallum, D., 1993, Proposed Alterations, Kenton School, Mamhead Road, Kenton (Correspondence). SDV351941.

The building is thought to date from the early 16th century when it was built as a church house, and a number of high quality architectural features remain, such as the door surrounds (although much altered), the large rear lateral stacks, Ashlar stonework and moulded beams inside. However the interior has been heavily re-ordered, the ground floor ceiling heights have been raised (probably in the 20th, rather than the 19th, century), and the two heavily moulded beams either side of the cross passage may not be in their original positions. Building works should be undertaken very carefully and where new openings are to be inserted in the corridor, plaster should be stripped off the walls before demolition to ensure there are no features of historic interest which should be recorded.

McCallum, D., 1993, Sketch of Rear Door Surround and Position of Beams (Illustration). SDV351940.

Ordnance Survey, 2013, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV350786.

English Heritage, 2013, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV350785.

School formerly church house. Probably circa early C16 origins, much altered subsequently. Red sandstone, some ashlar masonry visible on the rear, rendered to the front elevation; slate roof, gabled at ends; end stacks, 2 projecting rear lateral stacks with dismantled shafts. Plan: Original plan difficult to assess as much of the evidence is concealed by modern plaster and the internal partitions may be new. Single depth range, with 3 large rooms at present. Cross passage to left of centre, two C16 style doorframes on the front (one to the passage) are concrete or reconstituted stone and could be re- facings of original doorframes or copies, or entirely new. Carpentry in the right end room is plainer than the high quality moulded ceiling beams to the left of centre suggesting a lower status for the right end of the range. A small block to the rear of the range at the right end, and at right angles to it, is probably a C19 or C20 addition; 2 C20 flat-roofed single storey additions against the rear wall. Exterior: 2 storeys. Long asymmetrical 6 window front with regular fenestration and 2 segmental arched doorframes with hollow chamfers and square-headed hoodmoulds; front doors plank with studded cover strips, the right hand door with a glazed rectangle cut into it. Set of C19 2-light timber casements with small panes. The rear elevation has some exposed ashlar masonry in large block, some rubble masonry and some brick repair. Both rear lateral stacks are capped off below the level of the shaft, the rear left stack has set offs; 5 first floor and 2 ground floor C19 timber windows. Interior: 2 nicely moulded ceiling beams to left of centre, plasterboard possibly concealing old joists. Chamfered crossbeam to ground floor right. The fireplaces are blocked, early lintels and jambs may survive. First floor not fully inspected but the roof trusses appear to be entirely concealed: they could be of interest but may have been replaced. A copy of the charity commissioners report of 1823 held in the school states; "By deed, bearing date 14th April, 1559, Carew Courtney Esq., granted .... a house, called the Church House, with the appurtenances in Kenton, (which appears from the same deed to have been previously granted King Edward VI, in 1550 to William Moyle and another ...". The same report mentions that the "...house, curtilage and outbuildings ... have been for many years used as the habitation of the poor." An extremely interesting building, likely to retain interior features not visible at time of survey.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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