Summary

A very well preserved example of a 16th century cross-passage house, originating possibly as a yeoman's house. Two storey, roof of double roman tiles over water worn rubble stone walls.

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Description

Two storey two cell cross-passage house with left lateral partly external stack. Front elevation stepped back twice, once each side of the cross passage doorway. Rear external lateral stack, later enclosed by lean-to with single pitch roof. This butts onto an older catslide-roofed lean-to on the north end of the rear elevation. Single ridge roof with gable ends, southeast wall irregular and original, northwest inserted with lean-to on it, overlapping rear lean-to. Flue in north corner wall of house. Central front gabled dormer and rear raked dormer over stairs, pentice over southeast first floor window.

Roof of double roman tiles. Walls water-worn rubble stone, flattish, probably from the river, laid in rough courses. South end of front partially rebuilt with 20c pink mortar, northwest elevation pointed with this. Southeast elevation half-hipped with weatherboard infill to apex of gable. Black cement band round base of walls for protection against damp. Windows with timber lintels, right hand ground floor sills of concrete, left hand painted cement over the stonework. First floor sills c.1900 chamfered and painted brick. Double roman tiles form southeast first floor pentice. Jambs of front cross-passage doorway probably original, being large chamfered timbers very weathered, with 19c top rail and lower parts of jambs with repairs spliced in.
Two or three room 16c cross-passage house with plank and muntin screens along the through passage, jointed cruck roof. It is possible that the partition above the south screen was added in the late 16c or even early 17c, the beam is of different work and set straight above the plank and muntin screen. It may otherwise be that two traditions meet here, the plank and muntin screens of the medieval houses and the lath and plaster partitions, supported on beams, of the post-medieval era. There is no evidence for smoke-blackening so the house has always had a fireplace. It is just possible, as the northwest wall is rebuilt, that there was a third room at this end which was removed in the 18c or early 19c.

If not already there, insertion of beams and first floor, late 16c/ early 17c ( see above). Position of stair turret not known, possibly was next to the front stack where the half-beam is truncated, but this begs the question of the hall window.

Listed on 1809-12 Holnicote Estate Survey as Late Staddons (h1- 13), held by William Stoate with 15 acres of land. Leaded light window put in early 19c. Wooden lintel replaced in front doorway. By the time of the Selworthy Tithe map the cottage is divided into two, the northern half ( hall and cross-passage) is known as Staddens ( cottage and garden) with Thomas Creech as tenant, the other half, with an entrance door in the window next to the cross-passage, is listed as 'cottage and garden' with James Baker as tenant. James and William Stoate owned the plot of ground immediately to the southeast, this had a malthouse on it. On the 1867 Holnicote Estate Survey No. 140 was held by Richard Creech and 141 by James Baker. 141s, the malthouse, is listed as 'void'. Thatch removed and roof tiled, outhouse in garden built ( on 1889 OS Somerset sheet XXXIV.2). Cottage continued in dual occupancy. First floor ceilings inserted mid 20c, house returned to single tenancy.
Important Features:
External appearance with front door jambs.
Well preserved 16c plan with front and rear lateral stacks.
Plank and muntin screens each side of cross-passage.
Jointed cruck trusses ( 16c).
Lath and plaster lining roof.
Beams in living room and playroom ( late 16c).
Open fireplaces in living room ( now blocked with 20c inserted brick fireplace) and playroom, with oven opening.
Plank and batten doors.
Casement windows.
In a good state of repair although evidence of beetle attack in concealed part of ground floor beams and roof timbers.

Outbuildings:
Outhouse/ Store: Three cell with gabled roof, two south cells small and set back. Roof of double roman tiles with matching ridge on clasped rafters. Walls of rubble stone with brick quoins. Does not appear to be shown on the 1876 Holnicote Estate Map, but is shown on the 1889 1:2,500 OS first edition ( Somerset sheet XXXIV.2). Important features: external appearance, part of the provision for the cottages. In a generally good state of repair.
Woodshed: Single cell open-fronted shed, single pitch roof. Roof of felt on board over walls of vertical board on frame. Date uncertain - too small to be separately identified on the 1:2,500 plans, probably mid 20c. In a good state of repair.
Garage: Gable-ended building of timber construction. Roof of felt on boards over weatherboarded walls. Not shown on the 1929 1:2,500 scale OS revised second edition, although a building is shown in roughly the same location but closer to the house. The garage on its present site is shown on the 1973 OS mp SS 9047- 9147. In a good state of repair. [1]

From Holnicote Estate Survey in 2001: Two rooms and cross-passage of a 16c jointed cruck house, the inner room having been removed and replaced with a single storey lean-to, similar lean-tos provide extra space along the rear of the house. Roof tiled, walls local rubble stone, external front stack with lateral oven and insurance plate ‘Royal Liver’ society. Large front door jambs survive. Rear stack on lower room also external but enclosed on ground floor by lean-to. Roof structure two jointed cruck trusses with heavy purlins and south truss closed, no evidence of smoke blackening. Three bedrooms on the first floor. Two plank and muntin screens line the cross-passage, they are different and therefore possibly of different dates, the lower (south) one is 14 cms shorter near the front door. [2]

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