Kirkham House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kirkham House
Northern aspect of Kirkham House
Location	Paignton, Devon
Governing body	English Heritage
Listed Building – Grade II*
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Kirkham House is a really old stone house in Paignton, Devon, England. It was built a long, long time ago, probably in the 1300s or 1400s. This makes it a late medieval building. It's so important that it was made a Grade II* listed building on March 13, 1951. This means it's a very special historic place.

A Peek into the Past

Nobody knows for sure who built Kirkham House or exactly when. But its design gives us clues! Experts believe it was built sometime in the 14th or 15th century. That's between the years 1300 and 1499.

Some people called it "The Priest's House." This name suggests it might have been home to a church official or a priest from the Kirkham Chantry. However, it could also have been built for a successful local merchant.

In 1960, a kind lady named Mrs. Ada Frances Jennings gave the house to the nation. She also left money to help fix it up. The stone and plaster have been carefully repaired. But you can still see many of the original oak beams and beautiful carvings. Inside, you'll find furniture and tapestries that look just like they would have in medieval times.

What the House Looks Like

Kirkham House is a single, narrow cottage with three main rooms. It's made from a type of rock called breccia and has a slate roof.

On the ground floor, there's a cozy room called a parlour. There's also a large hall with a special arched ceiling. This hall would have been used for welcoming and entertaining guests.

Upstairs, on the first floor, you'll find a gallery. This is like a walkway that looks down into the hall. There are also three bedchambers, which are bedrooms.

The kitchen was not inside the main house. It was a separate building, and today only a few ruined walls remain. Next to the house, there's a small garden. You can also see an old cast-iron pump outside where the kitchen used to be.

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

How to Visit

Kirkham House is looked after by English Heritage. This organization takes care of many historic places in England. The house is open to the public at certain times of the year.

You can find Kirkham House off Cecil Road in Paignton. If you use an Ordnance Survey map, its reference is SX885610. It's a great place to visit and imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago!

See also

• Oldway Mansion