MDE1071 - Church Cottage or Church House, Churchtown, Parracombe (Building)

A simple two storey structure dating from the 17th Century. It was extended in the 19th Century, when it was subdivided into two small properties, before the two parts were reunited in the 20th Century. It is originally believed to have served as the Church House, and was partly built into the churchyard.

Church-house. A simple rectangular two-storey house of rubble masonry with a smaller extension to east. It appears to be divided into two cottages, to which a kind of front porch with a pent roof and plain doorways has been added. South-east in front is a row of four pigeon-holes. East is an old square stone chimney-stack. Otherwise featureless. Situated partly in the churchyard and south of the church. [1] Church ale house is to be seen partly in Parracombe churchyard. Now two cottages. [2] Cottage, formerly church-house. The core of the building probably dates to the 17th century. It was extended in the 19th century and much altered in the 20th. The building is constructed from unrendered stone rubble and has an asbestos slate roof with gable ends. The former outbuilding at right end of the main range has slate roof with lower ridge levels.. The main range has a two room plan with direct entry into right-hand room, which has winder staircase in rear left hand corner. This suggests the removal of a passage partition. There is a one room extension at the right end, possibly converted from outbuilding.The interior of the building was much altered in the 20th century. There are rough unchamfered cross ceiling beams to each room and timber lintel to fireplace to right end stack. Some c19 two plank doors survive. Roof not inspected. [4] The building was visited in September 2012 as part of the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. It received a BAR score of 6. [5] Adjoining St. Petroc’s churchyard, Church House Cottage is a low cottage row with a probable 17th Century core, although extended in the 19th Century and altered in the 20th to give a four bay range. The original building is believed to have been the Church House. [6] In 1760 four shillings were paid for ale to refresh the bellringers at St Petrock's Church during celebrations for the accession of George III. It was almost certainly brewed at Church Cottage. [7] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [9] A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording at Church Cottage was carried out between July 2019 and February 2021, comprising the monitoring of drainage works within the churchyard and internal groundworks.The external excavations revealed that the building had been in part built into the existing graveyard (MEM24819). Internal observations made during the works suggest the building originated in the 17th Century as a typical building with a passage and two room layout, converted into two separate dwellings in the late 19th Century. [10] Adjoining St. Petrock’s churchyard, Church House Cottage is a long low building, which according to the list entry is 17th Century, although given its position it is entirely possible it has earlier origins. For sometime it was in use as two cottages but it is shown on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map as ‘Barton’ indicating it may have formerly had a higher status. [11]