Leigh Barton Grange, Churchstow

In the civil parish of Churchstow.
In the historic county of Devon (Modern Authority of Devon, 1974 county of Devon).

The site of a fortified medieval farmhouse at Leigh Barton, formerly a grange of Buckfast, including the south and west building ranges of the house, a gatehouse, section of curtain wall and fishpond in addition to buried remains beneath the Grade I Listed house. The medieval house formed a U-plan with the present farmhouse range to the north. The house has a rectangular, three room through-passage plan, and appears to have followed a fairly typical pattern of development for a Devon farmhouse of which eight major phases have been identified. The first is known only from archaeological excavation and the evidence includes post holes, stakeholes, and a wicker-lined pit which represent two phases of substantial wooden buildings which pre-date the earliest surviving stone built phase. The second phase saw the construction of a open halled stone building belonging to the late medieval period. The third phase is also late medieval and included the insertion of a garderobe. The fourth phase was the final medieval one, when a stone stair was added together with a first floor partition. The fifth phase witnessed the insertion of the fine C16 timber screen, together with flooring over the passage, and the addition of a two storey porch. The sixth phase probably dates to the late C16 and seems to have been primarily concerned with altering the developments made during the earlier part of the same century. In phase seven, which probably dates to the mid C17, practically the whole of the structure east of the cross passage was rebuilt. The open hall and any room(s) beyond were replaced by two rooms on each of two floors. Phase eight dates from C18 and included numerous minor alterations including the enlargement of window embrasures and insertion of new doors. The curtain wall and gatehouse were added in the C15 or early part of C16 along with the pair of ranges associated with the farmhouse, which were restored in 1984-6.

This site has been described as a;
Fortified Manor House.
This site is rejected as a medieval fortification or palace.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 99515)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX72024671

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 444410