53 And 55, Gilstead Lane

This is a house, now divided into two separate dwellings, dating to the mid to late 17th century. It is constructed of large dressed stone with a stone slate roof. The house originally had a three-room plan with a lobby-entry design and a single-story outshut or aisle to the rear. There are four windows on the first floor. These are all double-chamfered mullioned windows; most of the mullions are missing, but those remaining have a cavetto moulding. The first-floor windows consist of a three-light window above a five-light window (now two-light), a three-light window above a two-light window, a doorway with composite jambs and a chamfered surround, another window above the doorway, and an inserted doorway in what was formerly a two-light window. A basket-arched doorway is also present, with a broad, chamfered surround. Above this doorway is a projecting rainwater spout on the left, and a former taking-in-door with a chamfered surround on the right. The right-hand gable is coped, with kneelers. There are three ridge stacks. The rear elevation has five small two-light windows and a doorway with a chamfered surround.

Inside, the housebody features a carved stone heck-post with an engaged column and ogee stops, and spine beams with broad, chamfered ogee stops. A timbered arcade leads to the aisle, featuring straight braces from posts on pads to the arcade plate. Rooms have oak raised-and-fielded panelled doors and window seats. The outshut contains a cellar and a spiral stone staircase to the left of a now-blocked fireplace.