See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

A church house, possibly late medieval in origin, which was used as a lodging for visiting priests. The present layout is the result of mid 17th century refurbishment. It is now a public house.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 1308433: CHURCH HOUSE INN

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX76SW/8
• Old Listed Building Ref (II*)
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX76SEW15

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CHURCH HOUSE (Built, XV to XVII - 1401 AD (Between) to 1700 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, SX76SEW15 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV163587.

Site visit 13th August 1951. Thought to have been built in 1199, the year in which the church was built. It was a lodging for visiting priests. Later parts were incorporated into the brew house for the brewing of church ales by churchwardens. Purchased from church and is now a free house, known as the Church House Inn.

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

According to the Charity Commissioners of 1818 the house was then let, the rent going to repairs on the church.

E. C. G., 1918-1919, Rattery - 'The Barbery' and 'The Plaistry', 126 (Article in Serial). SDV163589.

The green in front of the Church House was called The Plaistry, from the French word for a pleasure ground. Skittles and other games were played there. This area was adjacent to a common known as The Barbery. This now forms part of the vicarage garden. Steps known as the Barbery Steps lead from it to the churchyard.

Copeland, G. W., 1960, Devonshire Church-Houses: Part 1, 129-130 (Article in Serial). SDV298102.

On the village green immediately west of the church is a long building with smooth colour-washed stuccoed walls, and a grouted slate roof. In front to the west is a wide rectangular staircase projection under the continuation of the main roof, which extends a little way to form a pentice. At the rear are two large and lofty chimney-stacks, from shallow breasts. All the windows are late wooden-framed replacements, and the outer doorways are plain and featureless. The staircase, circular and of stone, has 9 steps about 1.22m wide and is entered from the present bar through a good oak doorway, with a triangular head ovolo and hollow moulded. The bar ceiling has crudely chamfered oak beams and a modernized fireplace. Similar ceiling beams in large room to east of bar, also part of plank screen and an open fireplace lined at the sides with stone slabs and with a wooden lintel. At the rear of the inn is a mounting block.

Copeland, G. W., 1964, Devonshire church-houses Part V, Pl. 11 (Article in Serial). SDV299096.

Department of Environment, 1970, Totnes Rural District, 20 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV340732.

Thorpe, J. R., 1983, Church House (Un-published). SDV163591.

A two-storey three room and cross passage house. Survival as Copeland above. Possibly late medieval in origin, but the present layout is the result of mid-17th century refurbishment.

Department of Environment, 1986, Rattery, 40 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV157873.

Public house, originally the Church House. C16. Roughcast stone rubble. Bitumenised scantle slate roof with gabled ends. Eight bay, long rectangular plan originally two storeys with stair turret on south west corner, two lateral stacks on north side and gable end stacks. Blocked central doorway on north side. Later outshut on north side. Two storeys.
Long approximately three window range. C19 and C20 two and three-light casements with glazing bars. Two lateral chimney stacks to right and left on north front, left hand projecting and with set-offs. Large later outshut on right of north side with mounting block on front. Central north doorway is now blocked. To left of south front on south west corner a rectangular projecting stair turret.
Interior: seven axial beams, and one half beam in west end, all with step stops, unstopped beam at each end. Inserted screen at east end forming small room with chamfered head beam. It is a plank and chamfered muntin screen, the centre section is missing and some of the planks have been taken out. Lateral fireplace rear east end of north wall with chamfered timber lintel. Fireplace at west gable end with massive stone lintel. Newel stairs with slate treads in stair turret on south west corner, with doorframe at bottom with cranked head and with ovolo and hollow moulding. Fireplaces on first floor probably blocked. Including end trusses against the gable ends there are nine trusses with cranked feet visible in first floor rooms. In the roof space they are clearly not smoke-blackened and have morticed apices and morticed far cranked collars, some collars missing, all side-pegged. No ridge piece, and three tiers of threaded purlins intact, but rafters missing.

Ordnance Survey, 2025, Mastermap 2025 (Cartographic). SDV366286.

Church House Inn. A long rectangular building adjacent to the churchyard.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.