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Summary

L-shaped building principally of late 16th and 17th century dates but with some later alterations. The house originally had one room open to the roof, probably with an open hearth. Demolished after a fire in the late 1970s.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99SE/27
• Old Listed Building Ref (II*)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FARMHOUSE (XVI to XVII - 1501 AD to 1700 AD) + Sci.Date

Full description

National Monument Record, 448294 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV127735.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV3991.

The 17th century plasterwork showing sun face and cherubs was salvaged after the fire. Has been professionally restored and deposited by county council in exeter museum in march 1981. The walls of the farmhouse up to c. I. M. Were left standing after the fire and may form part of an amenity area on the sowton industrial estate (timms).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV127726.

Henderson, c. /das newsletter/(february 1980)4-5, plan.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV127729.

Photographs of excavations (27/6/1979) in conservation section collection film 369/9-13.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV127730.

Archaeology in devon 1978/(1979),1 (photograph).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV127732.

Doe/hhr:st. Thomas rd/(-/9/1949)105.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV127733.

Laithwaite, m. /tda/103(1971)77-83/middle moor, sowton: a re-assessment.

Department of Environment, 09/03/1977, Sowton: Addendum (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV127736.

L-shaped building principally of late 16th and 17th century dates but with some later alterations. The main, east block dates from the late 16th century, it was altered with raised floor levels, an annexe wing and stair turrets in the mid 17th century and extensively redecorated at the very end of the 17th century. Built of cob on a plinth of Heavitree stone. Modern roof coverings, but the structure retains three jointed crucks at the west end, the east end has a mid 19th century roof of a lower pitch. Two storeys. 19th century casement windows, but mostly with original lintels etc. Internally. Three external chimneys of stone and brick. Typical mid 17th century gabled porch with room over on wooden pillars. Internally there are important features. The kitchen, once open has an inserted 17th century floor and chimney. The hall has a fine oak portion wall with the parlour, which itself has a very fine plaster ceiling of circa 1690. The cross passage has had the e partition removed. The staircase is mid 17th century with turned balusters. The east bedroom has good plasterwork with a sun of fine quality over the fireplace; there are other original features and more may be hidden.

Alcock, N. W., 1962, Houses in an East Devon Parish, 195-201; Figures 6,8,10; Plate 8 (Article in Serial). SDV130158.

Great Moor Farm. The house originally had one room open to the roof, probably with an open hearth against the west wall. The main block is of the mid-16th century. It has been altered by raising the floor levels and adding an annexe wing in the mid-17th century; it was also extensively redecorated in the late 17th century. Externally the east end is of ashlar heavitree stonework to the base of the windows and running up in two chimneys and the stair turret. There is cob above the stone, except for the west chimney which is of brick. Internally the west end is mainly of the first phase. The eastern beam in the kitchen rests on posts, the continuation of the truss above it, and it has stepped stops. The west beam has a draw stop at one end. The cross passage has had one wall and the stairs to the room over the porch removed by the present owners. The west wall of the hall has two beams, a moulded one and a simple chamfered one marking the early ceiling. In the centre is a large beam, chamfered but unstopped. The east wall is of stud and panelling; the studs are mason's-morticed into the head beam and have roll stops. The remains of red and black decoration are on the wall. The ceiling of the parlour is a magnificent piece of plasterwork. The blocked east window has an ovolo frame; the door frame at the foot of the stairs and the double one at its head have ovolo mouldings. The two windows in the stair turret have lintels with chamfers and draw stops. The banisters are turned and may be original. The two eastern bedrooms have moulded plaster cornices and bolection moulded fireplaces. There is an attractive 'sun' face with two winged cherubs' heads in one end. The attic had a gable window and was divided into several rooms, but it was removed in the 19th century when the roof was replaced and its pitch lowered. Two jointed cruck trusses were open and another was closed: this may be an upper cruck of the angled type. There is a plaster lining under the thatch. There is heavy smoke-blackening on this lining and on one side of the closed and open trusses. The door-post of the room beside the west chimney is chamfered with a draw stop and an original hinge. The annexe contains five original windows and odd timber fragments of walling and beams. Two doors with true mortices and scroll stops may form part of a screen-partition. One wall is of stud and daub construction. There is an unusual door frame with draw stops on the rear side of its posts (alcock, 1962).

Alcock, N. W. + Laithwaite, M., 1973, Medieval houses in Devon and Their Modernisation, 121; Plan (Article in Serial). SDV25027.

Alcock, N. W., 1975, Fields and Farms in an East Devon Parish, 104,142,143; Map 3 (Article in Serial). SDV130126.

There is documentary evidence for the farm from the 16th to 18th centuries, Great Moor was originally the family farm in the Moor Lane area and was held by the Lye family from 1565.

Henderson, C., 1980, Great Moor Farm, Sowton, 12-13 (Article in Serial). SDV127725.

In 1978 the building was burnt down. In 1979 it was excavated by exeter museums field unit for dcc. The first phase was a single storey cob building 10.4m by 5.6m, probably end 15th or early 16th century. Later in the 16th century an extension was added. Further enlargements followed and by the 18th century the house was greatly enlarged.

Alcock, N. W., 1981, Cruck Construction: An Introduction and Catalogue, 111 (Report - non-specific). SDV342504.

Jointed cruck recorded.

Griffith, F. M., 1988, DAP/JS, 10a-12 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346553.

Leverett, M. + Manning, P. + Allan, J., 2011, A Guide to the Archives of Archaeological Projects Carried Out In Exeter, 1970-90: Part I, 3 (Report - non-specific). SDV347114.

Leverett, M. + Manning, P. + Allan, J., 2011, A Guide to the Archives of Archaeological Projects Carried Out In Exeter, 1970-90: Part II, 30 (Report - non-specific). SDV347115.

Location and description of primary material relating to building recording prior to demolition, and excavation after demolition in 1979. Publication of report in progress. Other details: EA site no 401.

Alcock, N. + Allan, J. + Miles, D., 2012, Radiocarbon Dates List 3 (Article in Serial). SDV357413.

This substantial farm was demolished in 1978 following a fire, and Exeter Archaeology carried out detailed building recording and excavation of the site. Its full development has been established, from the original small house built on a new site in about 1510 to a substantial farm with three-room plan, including a large parlour, by the end of the seventeenth century. The roof trusses are of jointed-cruck form. Tree-ring dating samples were taken in 1978 but could not be matched. Radiocarbon dating on two elm timbers has now given final ring dates of 1457–1513 and 1484–1523. For the oak sample, the radiocarbon determination gives a final ring date range of cal AD 1469–1504. See article for full details.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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