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Summary

3-5 Sowton Village built in the early 17th century as a farmhouse with later additions and alterations

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1097580: 3, 4 AND 5, SOWTON LANE

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99SE/59
• Old Listed Building Ref (II): 86183

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FARMHOUSE (XVI to XX - 1600 AD to 1999 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Shown as two groups of adjoining buildings on 19th century map with a pump shown as 'P' between them within a rectilinear enclosure on the west side of the road. The eastern group of buildings later became 3-5 Sowton Village.

Alcock, N. W., 1962, Houses in an East Devon Parish, 210-1 (Article in Serial). SDV130158.

Numbers 3-5, Sowton. Farm buildings, now destroyed, were set in a square on this side. The front of the house was refaced in brick in the 18th century. In the early 19th century the house was divided into three cottages. The plan is unusual in having the hall in the centre, three doors at the back, and the stair position beside the central chimney. Early work survives inside. The cross passage is cut off from the south room by a stud and panel partition with true mortices and scroll stops. The head of the door into the south room is a horizontal board between two studs. It may be original, but more probably replaces an ornamental one. In the centre room the middle beam has scroll stops. Both lintel and beam are curved at the centre. The supports of this fireplace lintel show complex mouldings with pyramid stops. The north room has one beam with 45 degree cut stops. Its original back doorway has a lintel, split in the middle with this stop on both sides at one end, and it looks like two parts of a reused half beam. The 18th century additions include the back room, a doorway, the roof, raised and slanted in a gapped pattern, and the evenly arranged windows. The chimney is now used for two fireplaces, back to back. Its probable date is 1600 or later.

Alcock, N. W., 1975, Fields and Farms in an East Devon Parish, 105-10, 146-51 (Article in Serial). SDV130126.

Department of Environment, 1987, Sowton, 30 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV118121.

3, 4 and 5 Sowton Village on the west side of Sowton Lane. Three cottages, formerly a single farmhouse built in the early 17th century. Remodelled and partially rebuilt in the 18th century, with 20th century additions. Front wall and rear wing of brick, the right hand end and rear wall of roughcast cob on Heavitree stone footings: slate gabled-end roof. A 3-room plan house; the position of the original main entrance is uncertain, it was possibly a baffle-entry, the axial stack heating both the service end to the right and the hall to the left, with a stair to the rear of the stack opposite the entrance. Alternatively the entrance could have been between the hall and the left-hand room; a screen (now covered) between these rooms may mark an original through passage. If this last position is that of the original entrance, the hall stack would have been at the opposite end of the room tn the passage, which is also unusual in Devon. Left-hand external end stack. There is an 18th century wing to the rear of the left-hand room. 2 storeys. Front: 4-window range: 3-light casement windows to first floor. with a later single light window in addition. Number 5 has a very unusual, and presumably 18th century, doorway, with a wide shouldered arch in brick. 3-light casement window to the left of this. Large 20th century leanto porches to number 3 and 4. Extensive additions, all late
20th century, to the rear. Interior: the plank and muntin screen to number. 5 (noted by Dr Alcock) has been covered over. Numbers 3 and 4 not inspected : Dr Alcock notes a chamfered ceiling beam to the hall with scroll stops, and a chamfered fireplace lintel. with complex moulded jambs The lintel and the beam above it are curved at the centre. N W Alcock, 'Houses in an East Devon Parish', Trans. Devon Assoc., 94 (1962), pp. 210-11: figs. 14 (plan) and 15 (hall fireplace): plate 13. Other details: LBS Number 86183.

Fisher, J., 1999, East Devon Conservation Area Appraisals: Sowton, 4 (Report - non-specific). SDV347074.

Cottages at the north end of the village form an isolated but attractive group with typical slate/brick or thatch/stone combinations. Other details: Maps, photograph.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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