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Summary

A well-preserved 16th century manor house.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 1333316: BOYCOMBE FARMHOUSE

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY19NE/34
• Old Listed Building Ref (II*)
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SY19NE4

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MANOR HOUSE (Built, XVI - 1501 AD (Between) to 1600 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, SY19NE4 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV99303.

Site visit 12th November 1975. An interesting local example of a virtually unaltered 16th century house. Unoccupied at the time of the visit. Other details: Photos

Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M., 1932, The Place-Names of Devon: Part Two, 626 (Monograph). SDV337894.

Documented in 1278,1330,1377 and 1564

Coxhead, J. R. W., 1949, Honiton and the Vale of the Otter, 73-4 (Monograph). SDV350348.

Boycombe Farm. Constructed of grey stone and flint with a slate roof and stone mullioned windows. In the north gable wall are two 'owl' windows. At the rear of the house the foundations of a wing are still visible.

Department of Environment, 1950, Honiton RD, 19-20 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV118185.

Boycombe. 16th century. Stone and slate. Former manorhouse. Two external stacks and casement windows with stone mulliones and four centred heads on south-west side. Similar windows at rear and side. Interior has ceiling in kitchen divided into 16 compartments by deeply moulded beams (interior of panels not ceiled). Windows in same room have soffits enriched with plaster reeding or cable patterns. Room to left of kitchen has ceiling divided into four compartments by large moulded beams (compartments ceiled). Windows similarly decorated. Painting on north wall shows an old man with a beard shearing sheep, with a large cross behind and a path and gateway. Below is a verse dated 1724 (verse quoted).

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 397 (Monograph). SDV17562.

A 16th century mansion. Almost unaltered except for the demolition of one wing.

Hoskins, W. G., 1959, Local History in England, 125, plan (Monograph). SDV99306.

Young, W. T., 1959, Notes on the branches., 209 (Article in Serial). SDV123103.

Boycombe. Formerly manor house

Cherry, J., 1977, Untitled Source, 96-7 (Article in Serial). SDV99305.

Boycombe appears to be a two-storeyed house of early-mid 16th century date with only minor alterations. It has a three-unit ground plan with cross passage. The lower room was originally divided into two sections with separate doorways from the passage. The passage retains the head beam of a stud-and-panel screen on each side. There are tree first floor rooms, that over the lower room and passage was later subdivided and a loft inserted in the 16th or 17th century. There are stairs from both the hall and the parlour with a twin garderobe serving the two rooms above. The parlour has a wall painting dated 1744. Recorded by P. Child and M. Laithwaite.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1980, Records at Fortress House 1979 (Un-published). SDV99302.

Recorded by E. H. D. Williams.

Alcock, N. W., 1981, Cruck Construction: An Introduction and Catalogue, 110 (Report - non-specific). SDV342504.

Jointed cruck recorded. Citing E. H. D. Williams.

Timms, S. C., 1983, List of Devon buildings in NMR Recorded Buildings Index, London (Un-published). SDV337271.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 596 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Boycombe Farm. The name Boycombe is first documented in 1278. Present house is former manor house dated early - mid- C16; few alterations. Listed Grade II*.
SMR.

Tyers, C + Hurford, M. + Arnold, A. + Howard, R.E. + Thorp, J., 2009, Dendrochronological Research in Devon: Phase II, Table 1 (Report - Interim). SDV348234.

The farmhouse was assessed for dendrochronological analysis but not sampled.

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

L-shaped building.

Historic England, 2025, National Heritage List for England 2025, 1333316 (National Heritage List for England). SDV366287.

Bycombe Farmhouse. Farmhouse, former manor house. Late C16, carefully renovated circa 1980. Local flint rubble with Beerstone ashlar dressings and detail; stone rubble stacks with ashlar quoins and plastered (maybe Beerstone ashlar or brick) chimneyshafts; slate roof, formerly thatch. Plan: apparently a single phase 3-room-and-through-passage plan house facing south- east built down a gentle hillslope. Uphill at the left (south-west) end is an inner room parlour with projecting front lateral stack and a projecting rear newel stair turret (disused) which also includes a garderobe turret serving the first floor chambers. The hall has a projecting front lateral stack and its own projecting rear newel stair turret. Below the passage is a narrow unneated service end room. There is evidence that this was once divided by an axial partition into 2 small service rooms, probably buttery and pantry. 3 of the original 4 first floor bed chambers were heated. The house has apparently been 2 storeys from the beginning.
Boycombe is an exceptionally well-preserved late C16 house, both externally and internally. The standard of craftsmanship is particularly good. The one thing missing is a kitchen. It must have been in a detached building close to the house, probably to rear. No trace of it remains today.
See listing description for full details of the interior.
Date first listed: 22nd February 1955

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV5623 - Dendrochronological Research in Devon, Phase II

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