Description

BERE FERRERS
SX 46 NW
2/15 Rumleigh House
-
GV II

Large house. Circa mid C18 with early and mid C19 and early C20 additions. Walls
of original house are brick, slate hung at the side and part of the front. The rear
sections are rubble, one part is slate hung, and the C20 extension at the left-hand
side is rendered. Asbestos slate roof, hipped to main original and C20 blocks,
gabled to rear wings. 7 rendered brick stacks, all axial apart from lateral stack
at side of rear block and at side of mid C19 wing at right angles.
Complex development of plan and unusual layout to original house which is L-shaped
on plan with a 2-room plan front range; a larger room to the left and a central
entrance directly into the hall to the right which is now partitioned forming a
smaller room to the right and a central passage which leads to the staircase and
pantry behind the former hall which is consequently shallower than the left-hand
room. The kitchen is situated behind the stairs in a wing to the rear right. The 3
principal rooms were on the first floor; at the front was a large room to the left
and a small room to the right behind which was the staircase and another large room
beyond that in the wing. In circa early C19 further service rooms were added behind
the kitchen probably as the household was enlarged. These were further extended in
the mid C19, incorporating a wing at right angles, possibly a dairy. In the early
C20 the front block was extended to the left with a 1-room plan addition in a
similar style externally and the early C19 section of rear wing was heightened. A
lean-to/conservatory was added along the rear wall of the original front block
connecting the new extension which projected at the rear, to the service range.
Mainly 3 storeys with attic, rear mid C19 range is 2 storeys. Original front to
right is symmetrical with 2 windows further 1 window C20 extension to its left. In
the original section the outer 2 windows on each storey are canted bays, the right-
hand bay narrower with heavier, glazing bars to possibly original 12-pane sashes but
only top sash on each storey retains glazing bars. The left-hand windows are
similar but probably C19. At the centre probably early C19 enclosed Doric porch
with moulded cornice. Early C20 extension at left-hand end has large canted bay
window on ground and first floor. At the right-hand side of the house balc are 2
light probably C20 casements to left on each floor and at the centre is original
very tall roundheaded stair window with small panes; it has has a window inserted
below it. To its right is another original 3-storey bay window similar to those at
the front. To the right of this the wall projects slightly marking the early C19
extension and the fenestration becomes irregular. The original house has a
modillion cornice below the eaves which is reproduced over this section (heightened
in early C20) but with the modillions upside-down. Mid C19 extension to the right
of rear wing incorporating a wing projecting at right angles. On the opposite
(left-hand) side at the rear of the house is an original arched sash window with
rusticated architrave on the 2nd floor of the original rear wing. This has been
copied in 2 windows on the early C19 extension to its left. Below the C18 window is
an original bay window on the first floor similar to those at the front.
Interior: contains several good quality original features. The original cornices
survive in the principal rooms, more elaborately moulded on the first floor. The
front room to the right in the original block (formerly part of the entrance hall,
now partitioned off) has a mid C18 chimney piece with scrolled pediment and
shouldered architrave. The passage leading to the stairs has 2 arches with
pilasters, probably introduced in the early C19. The original staircase survives
with closed string up to first floor and cut string from then onwards. Large column
newels with column on vase balusters, carved spandrels and heavy moulded handrail.
Adjoining it on the ground floor is fielded panelling. On the first floor the
right-hand room has a later C18 Adam style chimney piece with reeded pilasters and
frieze incorporating 3 plaques depicting classical figures and a wheat sheaf above
each pilaster; moulded cornice breaks forward at either end and has egg and dart
moulding below. The adjoining first floor room has an original shouldered chimney
piece with decorative plaques to frieze depicting cherubs at the centre and wheat
sheaf at either end; heavy moulded cornice.
This house is interesting for its unusual plan wth the higher quality features on
the first floor in the principal rooms, perhaps imitating the grander houses of the
period, but more likely reflecting the special requirements of the owner. The
relatively early use of brick in Devon is also notable.

Listing NGR: SX4466068096

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26456646

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings