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Summary

Briar Cottage, 18th century, with probably earlier core.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1169265: HUNTLEY LODGE

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HOUSE (XVIII - 1701 AD to 1800 AD (Between))

Full description

English Heritage, 16/03/2015, Huntley Lodge, Tiverton Road, Silverton, Devon (Correspondence). SDV357980.

English Heritage have received an application to amend the entry for Huntley Lodge. They are now beginning their assessment of the building and will be preparing their advice for the Secretary of State.

Historic England, 2015, Briar Cottage and Huntly Lodge, Tiverton Road (Correspondence). SDV359359.

Historic England have been asked to review the List entry for Huntley Lodge as there is currently some uncertainty about the extent of the listing. The site consists of two separate properties, Briar Cottage and Huntley Lodge. The current address is for Huntley Lodge but the List description appears to refer to Briar Cottage.
The house currently known as Briar Cottage is thought to date from the late C17. The tithe
map of circa 1840 shows the current cottage as two distinct units, with a further two units
attached immediately to the east, and another extending to the north along the east side of the
road. At the time of the survey made for the 1889 Ordnance Survey map, the configuration of
the site was similar, with the northern unit having been divided in two. By the time of the
survey made for the OS map published in 1905, the two easternmost units had been
demolished, as had the northern section, with the area to the north remaining as a garden. It
is thought that it was shortly after this, and perhaps in 1905, that a large extension seen today
was built to the north. In 1987 or shortly afterwards the two main sections of the building were
separated into two separate dwellings, with extensive internal work taking place to both parts;
the later section was given the name Huntley Lodge. See report for further details.

Ordnance Survey, 2015, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV357601.

English Heritage, 2015, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV357602.

House. C18, but very likely possessing a much older core. Cob, stone footings, roughcast under hipped and gabled end thatched roof. 2-storeys. Front (to garden): 2-window range, the first floor windows each of 3-Lights, 10 leaded panes per light; C20 fenestration to ground floor with 2 doors, 1 under a glazed porch. Wing with 2-light casement window above a contemporary door, with canopy on shaped brackets, with 2-light window adjacent to the right. Tiverton Road elevation: one 2-light and one 3-light window to both floors, those of 3-lights with 8 or 10 leaded panes per light, and original frames. Interior not inspected.

Historic England, 22/02/2016, Briar Cottage, Tiverton Road, Silverton (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV359443.

The list entry has been amended for the following principal reasons:
Clarity: the List entry should be amended to provide clarity regarding the address and extent of listing;
Enhanced Understanding: we now have a fuller understanding of the history of Briar Cottage, and the amended List entry should reflect this.

In 1986 the building under consideration on Tiverton Road, Silverton, was listed as being a C18 house,
probably with an older core; the interior was not inspected at that time. The list description written at that time clearly refers to the southern part of the building now known as Briar Cottage, but the address given for the building was 7 Tiverton Road, with the address being amended in 1987 to Huntley Lodge; at that time both parts of the building were in one ownership, and planning documents indicate that the whole was known as Huntley Lodge. This has led to confusion, now that the two parts are owned separately, with clear separate addresses, the older section being known as Briar Cottage. We are therefore proposing amending the List entry to make it clear which part of the building is of special interest. Our current re-assessment has allowed us to make a full inspection of both parts of the building. This has confirmed that all the features noted in the 1986 List entry belong to the southern section of the building, now known as Briar Cottage, and that the northern part of the building, now known as Huntley Lodge, is of early-C20 date, with later additions and alterations. Although this part of the building was designed with consideration, to be sympathetic to the original building, it does not have the strong architectural merit which would be necessary for listing a house of this date. At the same time, the assessment has given us a better understanding of the southern part of the building, now known as Briar Cottage. We are now able to confirm the suggestion made in 1986 that the building has origins pre-dating the C18; it now appears that it is of C17 origin, developed from two cottages, with the western probably being the earlier. Drawings relating to the re-conversion of the overall building to two dwellings in 1987 show that extensive work was done to the interior of Briar Cottage, and it is thought that the original beams and joists in the eastern section of the building were enhanced at that time.

In the proposed new List entry, we have therefore been able to provide clarity with regard to the extent of the listing, altering the address to Briar Cottage, and also to offer an enhanced description which better reflects the special interest of the listed building, in line with current practice. At the same, the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act allows us to exclude from the listing those parts of the building which are not of special interest, namely the circa 1905 extension now known as Huntley Lodge, and the modern porch on the south-east elevation of Briar Cottage.

In recommending the extent of designation, we have considered whether powers of exclusion under s.1 (5A) of the 1990 Act are appropriate, and consider that they are. This is made clear in the proposed List entry.

After examining all the records and other relevant information and having carefully considered the
architectural and historic interest of this case, Briar Cottage continues to fulfil the criteria for listing; at the same time, it is concluded that Huntley Lodge does not fulfil the criteria for listing. A new List entry should therefore be issued, clarifying the extent of listing.

The house currently known as Briar Cottage is thought to date from the late C17. The tithe map of circa 1840 shows the current cottage as two distinct units, with a further two units attached immediately to the east, and another extending to the north along the east side of the road. At the time of the survey made for the 1889 Ordnance Survey map, the configuration of the site was similar, with the northern unit having been divided in two. By the time of the survey made for the OS map published in 1905, the two easternmost units had been demolished, as had the northern section, with the area to the north remaining as a garden. It is thought that it was shortly after this, and perhaps in 1905, that a large extension seen today was built to the north. In 1987 or shortly afterwards the two main sections of the building were separated into two separate dwellings, with extensive internal work taking place to both parts; the later section was given the name Huntley Lodge.

Cottage, dating from the late C17, formerly two, with the western part probably being the earlier. There is a large extension of circa 1905, now a separate dwelling, which is not of special interest.

MATERIALS: cob, rough-cast rendered and painted. The roof is thatched, and there are brick stacks. The
windows have timber mullions with leaded lights, with fixed and casement sections, some retaining historic glass.

PLAN: Briar Cottage is L-shaped. It is thought that the former western cottage is the earlier part: this is
L-shaped, running alongside the road, with a short projection to the north-east; the cottage possibly originally had a lobby-entry plan, with a central stack, and an entrance to the west. The former eastern cottage is rectangular on plan, extending eastwards in line with the north-east projection of the western cottage. The principal entrance to Briar Cottage is now in the south-facing elevation, towards the garden.

EXTERIOR: Briar Cottage is of two storeys. The south-facing, principal elevation has a central doorway, with modern glazed doors protected by a thatched porch; this is flanked by three-light windows with timber mullions and 10 leaded panes to each light, with similar windows above. A C20 glazed porch stands in the angle between the southern and eastern sections, with modern glazed doors in the north wall giving access to the dining room, and a modern arched opening giving access to the kitchen to the west. Above is a two-light window. In the south face of the southern projection is a three-light window; in 1987 there was a door in this position, and it is thought that this wall, which is relatively thin, may have been re-built. There is a two-light casement to the first floor. The western, street elevation of the cottage has similar windows, irregularly placed: there is a three-light window on the ground floor to the north with a two-light window above, and another two-light ground-floor window to the south – possibly originally a door; to the south, at a high level, is a small three-light window. The western part of the north elevation is obscured by Huntley Lodge; the eastern part has a ground-floor window to the east, and two small horizontal windows beneath the eaves, the one to the west dating from the circa 1987 works. Within Huntley Lodge at first-floor level is a small casement window, which formerly lit the north-east corner of the original western cottage.

INTERIOR: the ground-floor of Briar Cottage has three main rooms. To the west, in the original western
cottage, the kitchen is to the south; the chimney opening of the central stack to the north wall has been filled. To the west of this is the entrance to the dining room, possibly representing the original lobby, with a window – possibly originally the doorway – to the west. Running through the dining room is an axial beam with waney edges. In this room the fireplace has been blocked, but retains its timber bressumer. The window embrasure to the west has late-C18 or early-C19 panelling, with recessed panels and a window seat. In the living room to the north are two transverse beams; these have scroll-stop chamfers, which are thought to have been enhanced during the circa 1987 works. The joists are chamfered, and numbered in the eastern bay; these details are thought also thought to have been enhanced. The fireplace in this room was re-opened circa 1987, exposing the original timber bressumer. At the east end of the room is a small segmental-arched chimney opening, probably dating from the C18; this has been blocked. Rising from the room to the north is a timber stair, with chamfered detailing, installed circa 1987. The first floor of Briar Cottage, originally three rooms on the same plan as the ground floor, received a number of divisions circa 1987, and most of the joinery and fittings are of that date. In the easternmost bedroom, the chimney has been filled, but a small cupboard recess remains in the south-east corner. The roof over the original western cottage retains its timber trusses, the principal rafters crossed and pegged at the apex, with ridge piece, collars and purlins; there has been some replacement of timbers, but the roof is largely intact. The cob chimney rises through the
centre of the roof space.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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