The Church House is a building in South Tawton, in Devon, UK . It is a small and robust late 15th - early 16th century building constructed of granite with a thatched roof. It lies just inside the northern edge of the Dartmoor National Park, at the heart of the village of South Tawton, and is a Grade II Listed historic building, in a Conservation Area, with the church of Saint Andrew rising dramatically behind it. The proximity of the building to this Grade 1 church, in the centre of the village, is a significant attraction for visitors to the area. South Tawton in Dartmoor, Devon, United Kingdom is an ancient demesne (royal manor), going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus. ... Devon is a county in South West England, bordering on Cornwall to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Dartmoor is a National Park in the centre of the English county of Devon. ... South Tawton in Dartmoor, Devon, United Kingdom is an ancient demesne (royal manor), going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus. ... Buckingham Palace, a Grade I listed building. ...

Church House is an outstanding example of a special type of medieval community building. The community of the Parish of South Tawton has used Church House for over 500 years and remarkably it is still owned by the Incumbent and Church Wardens, as Trustees on behalf of the Parish and is run by the Church House Management Committee. Local documentary evidence (which begins in 1524) has produced data about the history of farming, land management and the evolution of the distinct group of community buildings called "Church Houses" during the Reformation; a period of major importance in national history. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

A special feature is the roof structure, which preserves cruck trusses and rare smoke-blackened thatch. Currently the building is used for Junior Church, Scout meetings, social events in connection with church occasions (e.g. baptisms and funerals, harvest suppers), painting classes, art exhibitions, committee meetings, and similar activities.

External links

• Official site (http://www.thechurchhouse.org.uk)