Kirkham House
Kirkham House is a medieval town house in the village of Paignton in Devon / Great Britain .
It is not known when exactly Kirkham House was built, but the design and layout suggest that it dates from the 14th or 15th centuries. It was formerly known as "The Priest's House", suggesting a connection to the church; but it could also have been the residence of a wealthy local merchant.
On the ground floor of the house there is a lavishly designed living room and a "hall" that is open to the roof and where guests could stay. Both rooms used to have stone vanities, a rare luxury in medieval houses. A gallery on the upper floor leads to three further living rooms and bedrooms. The kitchen was located in an outbuilding, but only a few remains of the wall still exist. There is also a small garden next to the house.
The late medieval structure was bequeathed to the English Heritage by Ada Frances Jennings, along with a sum of money for the restoration. Stone and stucco work has been extensively renewed, but many parts of the original oak beams and old carvings have been preserved. The work was completed in 1960. The building is open to visitors; reproductions of furniture and tapestries in medieval style are shown.
Web links
- Side of the English Heritage (English)
Coordinates: 50 ° 26 ′ 17 ″ N , 3 ° 34 ′ 15 ″ W.