The Barn, Exmouth

The Barn is a house in Exmouth built with two rectangular stone blocks connected by massive round chimneys topped with carved stone balls. The exterior walls combine local red sandstone with decorative pebbles and boulders arranged to create textured surface patterns.

Architect Edward Schroeder Prior finished this Arts and Crafts building in 1897. A fire later damaged the original thatched roof, which was replaced with slate.

The building's butterfly plan design gained recognition through Hermann Muthesius's book The English House, influencing German architecture in the early 1900s.

The house sits at an elevated position on Foxholes Hill and is clearly visible from the outside. Each wing serves a different purpose, with the east section containing cooking and dining spaces while the west section holds private rooms and access to upper levels.

This house gained international attention when Hermann Muthesius included it in his book 'The English House', which shaped how German architects and designers thought about building design in the early 1900s. The butterfly-shaped floor plan proved influential far beyond its quiet Devon location.

Location: Exmouth

GPS coordinates: 50.61140,-3.39470

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:45