Description
Possible 17th century stables and linhay with shelter shed, which have been ubsequently altered and restored in the late 20th century. Built of red sandstone random rubble, brick dressings with thatched roofs hipped at south-west end abutting West Lynch Farmhouse (qv); triple ridge tiles to shelter sheds. The L-plan, linhay and stables lie south-west/north-east, to the rear wall fronting garden of West Lynch Farmhouse (qv), returned to south-east as shelter sheds. [1]
Large Linhay, now storage and animal shelter: Long range on north side of yard, backing onto farmhouse garden, one and a half storeys, with single ridge roof hipped at west end only, with southwest corner removed and roof angled across the corner. North wall butts onto southeast corner of house, west wall butts onto southeast corner of stack. At east end Gig/ Cart Shed continues north wall, part of east wall occupied by Stock/ Fed Shed. Seven large piers from the front, infilled level with the front between piers 4 to 6 ( numbered from west). Wooden infill set back in other openings, but loft floor open in three west bays. Thatched, netted roof. Mainly rubble stone walls. The dating of this linhay presents problems, in that it appears to be 17c in origin, but is not shown on the 1809/1812 Holnicote Estate Survey map. The accuracy of this map is not known, further use may indicate its reliability. Shown on the 1841 Porlock Tithe map, but not the east end. As the piers seem to be similar along the front, the assumption must be that the stable was added. Full length of linhay shown on 1876 Holnicote Estate map. C. 1900 front infilled in east three bays but one, giving a stable with two windows and a wide central doorway. In the late 20c wooden infill to other box fronts, windows in stable converted to doors, front half of stable floor concreted. Important features: thatched roof, round stone piers, loft floor, cobbled floor, mangers along north wall, harness supports on front wall for horses or oxen, large timber planks of burr elm on exterior. Generally good state of repair, the west pier has a timber supporting it, the loft floor may need strengthening.
Small Linhay, disused at time of survey: Low single storey linhay, west facing, forming east side of yard, with Large Linhay on north, Chapel on south, and threshing barn on west of the large cobbled yard. Single pitch double roman tile roof sloping downwards onto pillars. Walls mainly red sandstone rubble. Structure shown here on 1809/1812 Holnicote Estate Survey. Nothing is shown on the 1841 Selworthy Tithe map or the 1876 Holnicote Estate map, although the boundary line which is the present back wall is indicated. The building is present on OS Somerset sheet XXXIV.2, scale 1:2,500. The use of red sandstone in the pillars and wall indicate a late 19c date, when the Ebshill quarry seems to have been in use. The back, north and south walls are different stone and probably the remains of the earlier building. Important feature: external appearance with pillars on west face. In a fair state of repair - one eaves and one ridge tile need replacing.
Gig/ Cart Shed, now garage: Gable ended building butting onto east wall of Large Linhay, using garden wall as north wall, and with Small Linhay on the south. This is the only building that opens on the road side of the farm complex. Fishscale tile roof. Not shown on the 1876 Holnicote Estate map, but building shown here on 1889 OS Somerset sheet XXXIV.2. This is indicated as coming out level with the east wall of the garden, but the difference may not have been indicated, it is difficult to know. Important feature: external appearance, backs onto large linhay. In a good state of repair. [2]
One of the many buildings that are part of West Lynch Farm. The outbuildings are remarkable, a threshing barn and roundhouse [MNA181999], all thatched, the one and half storey linhay range [this record], also thatched, and single storey linhay backing onto the road. Behind the house is a detached medieval kitchen, with many alterations and additions, but with a heavy mullion window in the west wall with no glazing rebates. The Chapel [MNA181998] is early 16c; it had been used as a barn but is now restored. [3]