Kirkham House

The Parlour at Kirkham House

Kirkham House is a late medieval stone house in Paignton, Devon, England.

History

It is not known when Kirkham House was built, although the design suggests that it is of 14th- or 15th-century origin. It has been called "The Priest's House", suggesting a link with the church, but it may have been built as the residence of a prosperous local tradesman. The ground floor of the house consists of a parlour and a large vaulted hall that would have been used for entertaining guests, while the first floor has a gallery and three bedchambers. The kitchen was an outbuilding that exists today only as a few ruined walls, and there is a small garden adjacent to the house.

Mrs Ada Frances Jennings bequeathed the house to the nation in 1960, together with a sum of money for its repair. The stone and plasterwork have been extensively renovated, but many of the original oak beams and carvings can still be seen. The building contains reproduction furniture and tapestries in the medieval style.

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  Exterior of Kirkham House, eastern aspect
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  Exterior of Kirkham House, northern aspect
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  First floor bedchamber, named the Best Chamber

Visiting

Map showing the location of Kirkham House within Devon.

Kirkham House is managed by English Heritage, and it is open to the public at certain times of year. The building is located off Cecil Road at Ordnance Survey map reference SX885610.

See also

• Oldway Mansion

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kirkham House.

• Kirkham House at the English Heritage website
• History of Kirkham House (requires Acrobat Reader)

Further reading

• Kirkham House. Department of the Environment. 1980. ISBN 0116710640. 

Coordinates: 50°26′17″N 3°34′16″W / 50.438°N 3.571°W / 50.438; -3.571