Description

DOLTON SS 51 SE 5/55 Stafford Barton 20.12.56 II* House, formerly small manor house. Circa mid C16, probably with earlier origins, altered and probably extended in C17, with further additions and alterations in C19 and circa 1920. Stone rubble walls, small coursed dressed stone blocks to porch, wall to its left and inner face of left-hand wing. Projecting rubble lateral stack at front with offsets, small C20 projecting front lateral stack to right of porch and another C20 rubble stack axial to rear right-hand wing, otherwise 4 brick stacks. Plan: complex development of plan, complicated by C20 alterations and addition. The basic form of 3 rooms and through-passage can just be discerned although the lower end to the right may have comprised 2 rooms. Hall heated by front lateral stack, small inner room beyond, 2 storey porch at front of passage. Wing projecting to front of inner room has similar stonework so may be contemporary or part of an early C17 remodelling which probably included the insertion of the hall stack although no direct evidence survives for an open hall. In the C19 2 rear wings were added one behind the passage and one behind the lower end, beyond the inner room an outbuilding addition was also made. The house was further extended in circa 1920 with a wing at the front which extended at the right end to another large wing at the rear, in both of these wings and the remainder of the house numerous old features were incorporated and re-used many from other old buildings in the area and replica features such as windows, doorways and beams inserted. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical and very irregular front of which the old part of the house forms the central 5 window portion with a wing at its left-hand end and 2 storey gabled porch at centre. To left of porch is early C20 3-light wooden mullion window on first floor, below it is contemporary moulded wooden mullion which does, however, retain its old cill so it is presumably a replica of a C17 ovolo-moulded wooden mullion window on the first floor of which the cill at least is original, below it is Tudor arched stone doorway with 1/2-roll moulding. The wide internal wooden doorway to the house is carved with a trailing foliage motif and is reputed to have come from Loosedon Barton, Winkleigh, before its demolition. Windows to the right of the porch are early C20 2- and 4-light wooden mullions. Early C20 wing projects to the front and right and is castellated apart from a small gable at the front which has ball finial to coping stones and a single cinquefoiled light on first floor - this may be a heavily restored earlier wing or may simply re-use earlier fabric. Windows to wing otherwise C20 1- and 2-light wooden mullions. At left-hand end of house is lower C19 outbuilding extension with 2 storey addition to original house behind it. Rear elevation of original part of house (to right) has C20 wooden mullions, that to the rear of the hall is 4-light and transomed. Small pointed arch moulded stone doorway to its left, low down in wall is probably re-used. Dressed stone quoins extending half way up the wall towards the right-hand end of this range indicate the extent of the original house. To the left 3 gabled wings project, the end C20 one is much larger and crenellated at the sides. At its end on the first floor it re-uses a C17 5-light wooden oriel mullion window on curved brackets. Small re-used medieval window with 2 pointed lights above it. On ground floor is probably C20 7-light wooden mullion window. C20 conservatory, the front of central C19 wing, that to its right has large 2 storey window bay on its end wall. Interior: is a mixture of features, new and old - many of the latter re-used either from other houses or other positions, all however, are of a good quality. The lower partition of the screens passage is made up of a circa late C16 panelled screen with ovolo-moulded muntins and rails, chamfered on the reverse side, which comes from Loosedon Barton, Winkleigh. The hall fireplace has chamfered granite jambs and wooden lintel which has been cut into. Herringbone pattern to stones at rear of fireplace. The ceiling beams to the hall are very plain, suggesting that there might have formerly been a plaster ceiling there. Over the former passage are foliage carved cross beams and joists which are probably early C20. The rear passage doorway has an ovolo moulded doorframe with decorative stops of which the lintel and right-hand jamb have been renewed. The room to the left of the hall has an early C17. peaked head doorframe and 2 hollow step-stopped cross beams. The room to the lower side of the hall has a fireplace with plaster overmantle dated 1640 depicting various figures including soldiers. Adjoining the fireplace is a C17 moulded wooden doorframe and a good quality contemporary panelled door. The C20 rear wing contains the most impressive period feature a very large and elaborate early C17 plaster ceiling and frieze taken from No.7 Cross Street, Barnstaple. There is a simple C17 plaster overmantle to the fireplace with strapwork and heraldic devices. On the first floor are sections of re-used C16 and C17 panelling. Stafford Barton is mentioned in the Domesday Book and recorded as having a chapel in 1415. It was owned by the Irish family Kelaway from the C12 who changed their name to Stafford in the late C15 or early C15 and it remained in their ownership until 1890 when the family died out. The house was acquired in the early C20 by C.F.C. Luxmoore the famous explorer and he built the modern wing incorporating features from other houses such as Eggesform House (q.v.). The house retains considerable historic interest and its features given evidence of the high status it retained into the C20 although it has become somewhat difficult to discern its original form.

Listing NGR: SS5843011463

External Links

• Wikidata Q17536322

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Recommended Books

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  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
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  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
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