| Summary: | Manor house in bad repair. Broken arches and damaged roof, panelling and ornamentation removed from ground floor rooms. Vestiges of coloured cornices in the bedrooms. Rooms well proportioned and lofty but nothing of architectural interest remains. Good archway at right angles to the front. Door has remains of napkin-pattern carving. Off the court is the wreck of what may have been the banqueting or dining hall with large fireplace. The date on the wall above the latter, 1634, may refer to repairs etc. Remains of smaller apartments on the other side of the court are perhaps offices and servants quarters. Greater part of the present structure is of james i period but some is much older. Slanting loophole just inside archway is akin to a church hagioscope. Spaces where escutcheons and coats-of-arms once were. Monogram or letters 'b' (family of berry or bury) at the finials of some of the windows. Roof raised by placing brickwork on the original wall. Pencil drawing of front of house was done by charles webber of ilfracombe. Remains believed to have been originated in the 13th century (hawker). Vis=estimated 1951 (pevsner) windows early tudor. Only a fragment remains. Porch dated 1634ad was transferred to westaway nr. Barnstaple (pevsner). Vis=estimated 1640 (risden) richard de biry was lord of the manor in the reign of edward i, and his posterity have dwelt here twelve descents (risden). Vis=24/9/1953 (os) remains consist of a rectangular building of stone blocks with early tudor windows, all in fairly good condition, and have been incorporated into modern buildings and used by the british legion (os). Vis=former manor house, acquired for parish rooms and hall in 1947. Manor house circa 1480, extended in 1914 with 20th century alterations. Original manor wing of ashlar, top courses above string in brick, with ashlar dressings. Slate roof hipped. Manor wing with single large rooms on each floor. Two storeys. See doe list for full details (doe). |
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