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Summary

Farmhouse of late medieval origin which was refashioned in the 18th century when the front was entirely reconstructioned. The rear has granite doorways and windows which are probably 16th century. The front has sash windows with brick surrounds and two fine brick chimneys.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 1317882: SMALLACOMBE FARMHOUSE

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX38NE/507
• Old Listed Building Ref (II*)
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX38NE3

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FARMHOUSE (Built, XVI to XVIII - 1501 AD (Between) to 1800 AD (Between))

Full description

Weddell, P. J., Report. (Report - Survey). SDV23526.

An interesting group of farm buildings.

Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M., 1931, The Place-Names of Devon: Part One, 190 (Monograph). SDV1312.

Smallacombe is documented in 1333 in the lay subsidy rolls. Probably the home of John de Smalecombe.

Pevsner, N., 1952, The Buildings of England: South Devon, 196 (Monograph). SDV336217.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 276 (Monograph). SDV17562.

French, K. + French, C., 1957, Devonshire Plasterwork, 134 (Article in Serial). SDV4676.

Department of Environment, 1960, Tavistock RD, 12 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV239444.

Late medieval origin refashioned in 18th century when the front block was entirely reconstructed. Rubble, partly plastered, with slate roofs. Main block has end brick panelled stacks. Two storey. Gables slate hung. Granite doorway with pointed head at rear and another of plainer type. Inside is a notable moulded plaster ceiling with long and elaborate pendants.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1963, Monuments Threatened or Destroyed, 1956-62, 31 (Un-published). SDV83845.

Smallacombe. Now a farmhouse with doorways of 15th century. Granite. House modernised in 18th century in brick and 'turned around' to face the other way. At rear are two two-light windows and two carved granite doorways, probably 16th century. Front has sash windows with brick surroundings, and also two fine brick chimneys. Period 3 ceiling, featuring central amorini. Farmhouse of stone, two storeys. Of medieval origin; with central hall and two cross wings; staircase projection added c.1600; remodelled c.1700 and plaster ceilings with figures almost in the round inserted.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1973, SX38NE3, Photos (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV239911.

Site visit 6th June 1973. An interesting house of late medieval origin, refashioned in the 18th century when the front was entirely reconstructed. The granite doorways and windows at the rear are probably 16th century. The front has sash windows with brick surrounds and two fine brick chimneys.

Department of Environment, 1985, Lifton, 72 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV337962.

Farmhouse. Circa late C16 origins, remodelled and turned round circa early C18. Stone rubble with some brick dressings, wrongly described as a 'brick building' by Pevsner. Slate roof gabled at ends, brick cornices. Gable ends slate hung. The west-facing C16 house was rebuilt in the early C18 with an east entrance front. A C16 doorway survives at the rear and a lean-to adjoining the south end with a C16 doorway and 2 mullioned windows may be the remains of a south cross wing. Nothing of the earlier house appears to survive above ground floor level. The main block of the C18 range has rear outshuts to either side of a 2-storey projection with a roof hipped to the rear, this may have been the early C18 stair projection although it is now ceiled over at first floor level.
2 storeys. 3 window symmetrical east front with a central 2-leaf panelled door under a flat porch canopy carried on granite columns, porch probably C20.2 ground floor 36-pane sashes with crown glass may be early C19 replacements. 3 narrow first floor 18-pane sashes, the central sash boxed. Two 2-light granite mullioned windows to south end of south lean-to have timber casements and iron stanchions. Hollow-chamfered arched granite doorway with pyramid and ball stops on the w end of the lean-to. The ground was levelled up when the C18 house was erected leaving most of the old south cross wing below the ground level of the C18 building. The hipped rear projection has 2 C20 buttresses and a probably re-sited moulded granite arched doorway to the left with carved spandrels and a square-headed architrave.

Snell, R., 1986, Green Lanes in Devon Project (Un-published). SDV8442.

Smallcombe Farm is mentioned in Domesday Book.

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

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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