See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

Former reading room built in the 1870s. It had ceased to be a reading room by the 1930s, becoming part of the Thorncliffe Works. It was converted to a dwelling for a Polish family after the Second World War but reverted to a store room again when they emigrated to Australia.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• LIBRARY (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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

Building shown in this location but not named.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Reading Room marked.

Barnett, J., 2018, Thorncliffe Works, Bishops Tawton. Heritage Statement (Report - Survey). SDV362757.

The Reading Room was built in the 1870s by Miss Davie, then owner of Elm House nearby. It appears to have ceased to be used as a library by the 1930s, becoming part of the adjacent Thorncliffe agricultural works. It was converted for use by a Polish refugee family after the Second World War and when they emigrated to Australia it became a steel and paint store.
A bath stone inscription from Proverbs which was formerly under the front windows of the Reading Room was removed in about the 1950s and is currently in a garden wall at Elms House.

Google, 2019, Google Streetview (Website). SDV362731.

Attractive single storey, gable-ended building fronting the road. Built in arts and crafts style, of cream brick with bands of decorative red brick around the walls and also used for the arches over the doorway. It has a large front window that extends up into the roof with its own projecting gable roof. The roof is of slate with looped ridge tiles.

Ordnance Survey, 2019, MasterMap 2019 (Cartographic). SDV362729.

Waterhouse, R., 2021, Thorncliffe Works, Bishops Tawton, Devon. Historic Building Recording (Report - Survey). SDV366229.

A programme of historic building recording was undertaken at the works and the adjoining Reading Room prior to conversion to residential use.
The Reading Room which fronts the village street was originally built as a public library by Miss Davie of Elms House in 1870. It was acquired by the agricultural works for a store some time after the Second World War.
It is a single storey building, built of stone rubble and faced with yellow brickwork with decorative bands of red brick, under a slate roof with decorative ridge tiles. It has an arched doorway and a large, decorative window under a gablet extending from the roof on the east side and two decorative arched windows on the north side. There is a large, modern lean-to shed on its west side. Features remaining internally include a fireplace and a timber gallery at the south end. Attractive doors and windows on the north and east sides.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV362729	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2019. MasterMap 2019. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #115009 ]
SDV362731	Website: Google. 2019. Google Streetview. http://maps.google.co.uk. Website.
SDV362757	Report - Survey: Barnett, J.. 2018. Thorncliffe Works, Bishops Tawton. Heritage Statement. JB Architects. Digital.
SDV366229	Report - Survey: Waterhouse, R.. 2021. Thorncliffe Works, Bishops Tawton, Devon. Historic Building Recording. South West Archaeology. 200501. Digital.
	Linked documents:1

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV9148 - Historic Building Recording at Thorncliffe Works, Bishops Tawton (Ref: 200501)

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