MEM22328 - North Furzehill Farmhouse (Building)

A late 16th Century farmhouse with later modifications. The interior still contains many historic elements. Two dwarf walls flanking the entrance carry the remains of square stone pinnacles said to come from the former chapel at South Furzehill.

Farmhouse. Late C16, later modifications. Rubble, painted to front and gables, tile roof. A 3-room cross-passage plan with heated outer rooms; the upper end, to the right of the passage, is at a higher level than the lower; at the lower end is a small rear wing, originally of 1 storey, raised to 2 in the C20. Garage to left added 1993-4. 2 storeys; 4-window range. Irregular fenestration, all C18 or C19 casements, with 4 or 6 panes, to wood lintels. At first floor is a small 2-light, then beyond a break in the wall, three further 2-light, those to the right at a higher level. The ground floor has a 3-light with rough stone drip-course, in the set-back part of the wall, then a C20 two-light and a further C19 flanking the doorway, with C20 door. Each gable end has a stack, that to the right stepped, in stone, and to the left the same, but the upper part in brick; this gable steps back beyond the stack. The eaves slopes down to the left, following the slope across the site, and providing a deeper soffit over the recessed wall. The right gable has a small single light, and the back has a C20 glazed door to the upper room, and 2-light beyond. There is a swept-down roof to right of centre, merging with the later gabled wing. INTERIOR: considerably modified, especially at the ground floor, but many historic elements remain. The upper room has a wide fireplace with late C16 ovolo-moulded and stopped bressumer; the first-floor room above has a crude pegged A-frame roof, with 2 purlins and diagonal ridge purlin. The lower room also has a fireplace with deep bressumer beam, and a cloam oven. The upper level has trusses with curved feet (characteristic of an early date) and a pegged collar, with rough scarfed purlins; there were formerly pegged rafters. There is an early framed partition above and below the collar level. SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: flanking the main entrance are 2 dwarf walls, carrying on their outer ends remains of square stone pinnacles with gablet faces; these are said to have come from the former chapel (qv) at South Furzehill Farmhouse. [1] The farmhouse was visited in December 1996 and was described as ancient, built across the contours of the site. The fairly intact front was stated to face the yard, with the back having more 20th Century alterations and the ridge featuring two big 17th Century chimneys. The house was said to be obviously an interesting building of at least two major phases. [2] The buildings were not assessed during the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. [3] North Furzehill Farm has turbary rights on Furzehill Common and has a turf house visible as a lean-to against the threshing barn. [4] The building was subject to a Level 2 survey in advance of a planning application for a first floor extenstion. [5]