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Summary

Late 15th century farmhouse, now divided.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS51NE/20
• Old Listed Building Ref (II)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MANOR HOUSE (VIII to XVII - 701 AD to 1700 AD (Between))

Full description

Reichel, O. J., 1906, Translation of the Devonshire Domesday, 507 (Article in Serial). SDV337899.

Reichel, O. J., 1928 - 1938, The Hundred of Shebbear in Early Times, 485,486,545,575,581,584 (Article in Monograph). SDV7713.

The manor of Owlacombe was held with the manor of Blinsham in Beaford during the middle ages. History and early descents given.

Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M., 1931, The Place-Names of Devon: Part One, 118 (Monograph). SDV1312.

'Owlacombe' was mentioned as 'Ulacomba' in 1086, 'Olecumbe', 'Ullecumb' and 'Wollecumb' in 1242, and 'Oulecombe' in 1326.

Oliver, M. F. C., 1951, Roborough, its Manors and Bartons, 247 (Article in Serial). SDV338620.

Domesday manor of olecumbe. Held in the time of king Edward by Alveva. In 1086 Goscelm held it of Tetbald. Descents and history of the manor.

Department of Environment, 1959, Torrington RD Provisional List, 13 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV118.

Roughcast with slate roof. Projecting lateral stack at front. Grade III Listed.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1973, SS51NE12 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV338619.

Visited 27/9/1973. No evidence of the earlier building. Nor any local tradition regarding it.

Department of Environment, 1989, Roborough, 130 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV21135.

Owlacombe farmhouse + short section of adjoining front garden wall.
Farmhouse now divided. Late c15 or early c16, altered in the early c17. Further altered and probably enlarged in the mid c19. Minor late c19 or early c20 addition. Rendered cob with rendered mid c19 addition (probably over stone rubble). Gable-ended c20 asbestos-slate roof (replacing c19 welsh slates). Circa 1900 additions of squared snecked stone with red brick dressings and gable-ended slate roof. Rendered and later stacks.
Plan and development: c.1500 3-room and through passage plan, facing ne (ground falls to left). Central hall with external lateral stack to front, through passage and former service room to right and 2 rooms to the left with axial stack between hall and first room and integral end stack to left hand room. The hall was formerly open to the roof and the first floor and the stack were probably inserted in the early c17. Porch to through passage with winder staircase to the right, probably also a c17 addition. Two rooms to left of hall probably a mid c19 addition but possibly an enlargement of a c.1500 or later inner room. Entrance hall immediately to left of hall with a mid c19 straight flight staircase along the rear wall and an entrance to the front. The service room at the right hand end of the house had been divided longitudinally, probably a c19 alteration, the rear part a dairy. The rear doorway of the through passage was probably blocked in the c19 too. Kitchen wing projecting at right angles to rear of the left hand end with an integral later stack, probably a mid c19 addition but possibly incorporating earlier fabric. House divided in the late c20 and a kitchen formed from part of the entrance hall to the left of the hall. Circa 1900 outbuilding adjoining at the right angles to the rear of the right hand end. Two storeys with one storey addition.
Exterior: hall stack to front has chamfered offsets and a tapered square shaft with a set back top stage. Later second flue to left. Asymmetrically fenestrated front; 4 windows to first floor and 3 to ground floor, mostly c19 two light small paned wooden casement, some replaced by c20 plate glass casements. Porch to right with catslide roof and depressed arched opening. The doorway has a c.1500 continuously chamfered round arched pegged wooden frame with broach stops (repaired in the c19) and a c19 six panelled door (lower 3 panels beaded flush and upper 3 recessed). Small c19 two light wooden casement to right of porch archway, lighting staircase. Dooorway between the first and second windows from left with a c20 glazed door and a c19 beaded wooden frame. Two ground floor c20 small paned 2 light wooden casements in the left hand gable end (in mid c19 openings). Two large gabled semi dormers to the side of the rear wing, and c19 2 and 3 light wooden casements in the gable end. Outbuilding at the rear of the right hand end has a segmental headed 2 light wooden casement to the right and a segmental headed plank door to the left.
Short section of stone rubble garden wall adjoining right hand front corner of house, with gateway in the right hand side and gateway opposite.
Interior: through passage flanked by stud partitions and with c19 matchboarded dado. Probably c17 oak winder stair in projection to right of porch. Hall with three c17 chamfered cross beams. Mid c19 staircase to left of hall with closed string, diagonally set stick balusters and turned foot newel. Mid c19 6 panelled doors in left hand end of house. End windows in left hand ground floor end rooms have jambs which continue to floor level. Most of roof rebuilt in the mid to late c19. One remaining c.1500 smoke blackened truss, over the centre of the hall, with straight principals (apparently) and mortice and tenoned cambered collar. The late medieval roof also has threaded purlins and a diagonally set ridge piece, set in a slot in the mortice and tenoned apex.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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