MSO10644 - Gallon House, Exmoor (Building)

Summary

A farmhouse purchased by the Knight Family in 1841. It contained The Red Deer Inn, where Frederick Knight held his biannual Rent Audit for the Exmoor and Brendon Estates, but it closed by 1883. It also housed a youth hostel in the 1940s.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Shown on OS map as Red Deer Farm. Farmhouse. Mid C19. Roughcast over rubble, bitumen covered hipped slate roof, roughcast stacks rising from eaves. Double pile. Two storeys, 3 bays; 12-pane sash windows, central gabled porch, semi-circular headed opening, plank door; 2-storey, one bay lean-to roofed wings on either side, 6-pane sash window first floor left, right ground floor 2-light casement, entered on returns. This farmhouse was built by the Knight family. [1] English Heritage Listed Building Number: 265424. First Listed on 02/01/1986. [2] Double pile plan. Stone, Render, roughcast and pebbledash walls. Hipped roof [3] The 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map shows the property as Red Deer House. [4] The 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey map labels the site as Red Deer Farm. [5] The modern MasterMap data shows the property as being named Gallon House. [6] The building was visited in June 2013 as part of the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. It received a BAR score of 6. [7] SS 810 393. Red Deer Farm, Simonsbath, Minehead, Somerset. Opened between August and September 1946 as a small primitive self catering only farm hostel by the Youth Hostel Association. It closed permanently on 31 October 1948, replaced by Crangs Heasleigh, which received equipment from Simonsbath. [8] At Red Deer, John Knight had purchased an 'Allotment, Dwelling House and Premesis' in February 1841. In the June 1841 census return, it was referred to as Gallon House (an inn), with Richard Bromham as publican. The Red Deer had given up its licence through lack of trade by 1883. [9] Frederick Knight held his half yearly Rent Audit for the Exmoor and Brendon Estates at the Red Deer Inn (now Gallon House) on the Exford Road. [10] The "Red Deer" is one of three inns opened on the outskirts of the free suitors' allotments in the southeastern portion of the moor. It is better known as Gallon House, having long ceased to be an inn. [11]

Sources/Archives (11)

  • <1> Index: 2/1/1986. Thirty-fifth List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of West Somerset (Somerset)/Exmoor National Park.
  • <2> Unassigned: Webster CJ, Historic Environment Record. 2005. Staff Comments, Somerset County Council.
  • <3> Unpublished document: Somerset County Council. Various. Somerset HER parish files - Exmoor records.
  • <4> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <5> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-1907. County Series, 2nd Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <6> Map: Ordnance Survey. 2014. MasterMap.
  • <7> Report: Lawrence, G.. 2014. Exmoor National Park: Rapid condition survey of listed buildings 2012-13.
  • <8> Unpublished document: Martin, J.. 2018. Youth Hostels Association (England and Wales): Historical listing of all youth hostels and other YHA accommodation. 414-5.
  • <9> Monograph: Orwin, C.S. + Sellick, R.J.. 1970. The Reclamation of Exmoor Forest. David and Charles Limited. 2nd Edition. 234.
  • <10> Monograph: Burton, R.A.. 1994. Simonsbath: The Inside Story of an Exmoor Village. Roger A. Burton. 52, 126.
  • <11> Monograph: MacDermot, E.T.. 1911. The History of the Forest of Exmoor. Barnicott and Pearce, The Wessex Press. 436.

External Links (0)

Other Statuses/References

  • 2012-3 Building At Risk Score (6): 1076/12/11
  • Local List Status (No)
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 31130

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 8106 3936 (23m by 13m)
Map sheet SS83NW
Civil Parish EXMOOR, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Aug 23 2021 4:36PM

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