No. 38 Holloway Street, Exeter

	What is known as the Elizabethan house in Holloway Street, Exeter, is all that remains of Larkbeare House. The original house was late medieval and its history is closely allied to the rise and fall of Exeter's leading merchant families associated with the woollen trade, including the Hull family in the 15th century (the ancestors of the Trust's past President, Sir Richard Hull), Sir Nicolas Smith in the 16th century , a Sheriff of the City and in the 18th century, John Baring, one of Exeter's principal merchants. Five mayors of the city are also connected with the house.
As a consequence of a “dangerous structure” notice being served on the building, a public inquiry was held in the Spring of 1977. The Historic Buildings Division of the Department of the Environment and Exeter City Council won their case for the restoration of 38 Holloway Street against the owner's wishes for demolition. BP Oil Company,which owned the building and the adjoining petrol filling station, accepted its defeat with grace and offered to sell the property to theDevon Historic Buildings Trust for the sum of one pound and to make a gift towards the restoration fund.
	The Trust instructed its Architect to examine the property, to report and to make recommendations for conversion to a two bedroom dwelling house. The Architect's first visit was alarming. The front elevation was in imminent danger of collapse and with a constant stream of heavy traffic and pedestrians passing by, the probability of serious consequences were extremely high. A contract was drawn up quickly for the restoration of the building and the Trust assumed responsibility on 2nd April, 1979. It was realised from the outset that the Trust could not escape making a loss on this particular project but the building was listed Grade II and the City Council recognised its substantial townscape value, its local historical connections and its relevance for future plans for improving the decaying Holloway Street area. Thus, with active encouragement and substantial financial support from the City, the Trust agreed to accept the challenge. The result is an extremely interesting conversion to a house, containing several features of great historic interest including a coffered ceiling and medieval roof trusses.

What is known as the Elizabethan house in Holloway Street, Exeter, is all that remains of Larkbeare House. The original house was late medieval and its history is closely allied to the rise and fall of Exeter's leading merchant families associated with the woollen trade, including the Hull family in the 15th century (the ancestors of the Trust's past President, Sir Richard Hull), Sir Nicolas Smith in the 16th century , a Sheriff of the City and in the 18th century, John Baring, one of Exeter's principal merchants. Five mayors of the city are also connected with the house.

As a consequence of a “dangerous structure” notice being served on the building, a public inquiry was held in the Spring of 1977. The Historic Buildings Division of the Department of the Environment and Exeter City Council won their case for the restoration of 38 Holloway Street against the owner's wishes for demolition. BP Oil Company,which owned the building and the adjoining petrol filling station, accepted its defeat with grace and offered to sell the property to theDevon Historic Buildings Trust for the sum of one pound and to make a gift towards the restoration fund.

The Trust instructed its Architect to examine the property, to report and to make recommendations for conversion to a two bedroom dwelling house. The Architect's first visit was alarming. The front elevation was in imminent danger of collapse and with a constant stream of heavy traffic and pedestrians passing by, the probability of serious consequences were extremely high. A contract was drawn up quickly for the restoration of the building and the Trust assumed responsibility on 2nd April, 1979. It was realised from the outset that the Trust could not escape making a loss on this particular project but the building was listed Grade II and the City Council recognised its substantial townscape value, its local historical connections and its relevance for future plans for improving the decaying Holloway Street area. Thus, with active encouragement and substantial financial support from the City, the Trust agreed to accept the challenge. The result is an extremely interesting conversion to a house, containing several features of great historic interest including a coffered ceiling and medieval roof trusses.