WORK on the historic Church House, at South Tawton is continuing with the team having stripped out all the 1960s work that is not suitable and revealing the sixth fireplace at the east end of the building. The bread oven and the massive flue at the west end have also been uncovered by the contractors Darrock and Brown. All old plaster has been removed and the first floor joists have been exposed with the removal of the softwood flooring. Work on the provision of a French drain at the rear of the house has been completed and the stonemason has started on replacing the missing mullions on the ground floor window. All restoration processes are being photographed and recorded on video, but there is also the chance to see the work first hand, with two further open visits to the house. These are taking place on Friday, July 8 and Friday, August 12, lasting from 1.30pm until 3.30pm each day. The days have been arranged by the Church House management committee and if you or your group would like to see the continuing restoration work, they would be happy to see you. David Youle, project manager, said: ?We are sorry the open times are limited, but the contractors naturally want to get on with their task which is scheduled to be completed on September 9.? Mr Youle said much of the cement pointing had been removed and the rest would follow as soon as the scaffolding had been set up. He said the committee had received reports from Ken Tyers (dendrochronology), John Letts (historic thatch) and carried out siebert testing on the soundness of the timbers.
