The main block of the Great House was built circa 1740. it was built in front of and attached to an earlier three cell house, probably a farm-house. The original front, is only in evidence in the enclosed yard, reputed to have been used as a “Cock Pit”. The late 17th century part of the house has the original wooden panelling in all of its principal rooms and a good quality main staircase with an unusual dog gate at the base of the stairs
The function of the house was to provide a second residence for the Luttrell family, whose main residence was Dunster Castle.
The House is a grade 2 listed building. The Historic England listing states:
“House. Circa 1740. Roughcast grooved as ashlar, quoin pilaster strip left, flat band string courses raised to sills of windows, moulded cornice, shallow pitch slate roof, roughcast stacks gable ends.
Plan: double pile. Three storeys, 5 bays, segmental headed sash windows below lintels, 15-pane second floor others 18-pane; central entrance, segmental headed 12-pane light above raised and field panelled door with inset many paned lights. Hipped single bay, 2-storey
addition right, 18-pane sash window, left pyramid roofed 3-bay wing service wing adjoining, C20 fenestration, 3 gabled wings at rear.
Interior: partially seen, C18 raised and fielded panelling to ground floor room left of panelled hall, segmental archway, central stairway with urn balusters and some twisted balusters, cut string.”
Listing NGR: SS9568242178
Sources: ENP Planning Application 6/34/19/110LB
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345748
Article by Lesley Webb 11/10/2019
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Timberscombe 