Church House, South Tawton
Encyclopedia
The Church House is a building in South Tawton
in Devon
, England. It is a small and robust late 15th - early 16th century building constructed of granite with a thatched roof. It lies just inside the northern edge of the Dartmoor National Park, at the heart of the village of South Tawton, and is a Grade II Listed historic building, in a Conservation Area, with the church of Saint Andrew rising behind it. The proximity of the building to this Grade I church, in the centre of the village, is an attraction for visitors to the area.
Church House is an example of a special type of medieval
community building. The community of the Parish of South Tawton has used Church House for over 500 years and it is still owned by the Incumbent and Church Wardens, as Trustees on behalf of the Parish and is run by the Church House Management Committee. Local documentary evidence (which begins in 1524) has produced data about the history of farming, land management and the evolution of the distinct group of community buildings called "Church Houses" during the Reformation; a period of major importance in national history.
A special feature is the roof structure, which preserves cruck trusses and rare smoke-blackened thatch. Currently the building is used for Junior Church, Scout meetings, social events in connection with church occasions (e.g. baptisms and funerals, harvest suppers), painting classes, art exhibitions, committee meetings, and similar activities.
South Tawton
South Tawton, a village on the North edge of Dartmoor, Devon, England is an ancient demesne , going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus.-History:...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. It is a small and robust late 15th - early 16th century building constructed of granite with a thatched roof. It lies just inside the northern edge of the Dartmoor National Park, at the heart of the village of South Tawton, and is a Grade II Listed historic building, in a Conservation Area, with the church of Saint Andrew rising behind it. The proximity of the building to this Grade I church, in the centre of the village, is an attraction for visitors to the area.
Church House is an example of a special type of medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
community building. The community of the Parish of South Tawton has used Church House for over 500 years and it is still owned by the Incumbent and Church Wardens, as Trustees on behalf of the Parish and is run by the Church House Management Committee. Local documentary evidence (which begins in 1524) has produced data about the history of farming, land management and the evolution of the distinct group of community buildings called "Church Houses" during the Reformation; a period of major importance in national history.
A special feature is the roof structure, which preserves cruck trusses and rare smoke-blackened thatch. Currently the building is used for Junior Church, Scout meetings, social events in connection with church occasions (e.g. baptisms and funerals, harvest suppers), painting classes, art exhibitions, committee meetings, and similar activities.