Sealwood Cottage

Sealwood Cottage is a late 18th-century folly, eye-catcher, or garden building, with an early 19th-century addition and minor 20th-century alterations. It is constructed of red brick and reused timber framing, with plain-tile hipped roofs, and a single brick chimney stack. The original two-story 18th-century building has single-story wings and a two-story rear addition.

The exterior of the original building is brick faced with reused timber framing and brick infill. The main facade has a central doorway flanked by single windows in either wing; these windows were replaced in the early 20th century and are now boarded. A large central window opening is present on the first floor. The south-west elevation is blind, featuring decorative framing and evidence of an earlier doorway. The north-east elevation has a shuttered staircase window opening.

The rear addition features segment-headed openings on the ground floor and flat-headed openings with timber lintels on the first floor. The rear north-west elevation has a single boarded window with a small shuttered opening to the right, above which is a two-light casement window. The north-east elevation has two windows and a doorway to the right, plus two two-light casement windows above. The south-west elevation has a small central boarded window with a tiny window to the left, above a small casement window.

The interior of the original building includes Gothic pointed arched doorways and doors, an original inglenook fireplace with a pointed arched drying cupboard, stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops, an original timber half-spiral staircase with a pointed arched cupboard door, and a wine cellar in the basement containing brick wine bins. The first floor contains a single room with a pyramidal plaster ceiling, a moulded doorcase, a moulded dado rail, and a pointed arched fireplace with a slate surround. The dado contains a movable section concealing a pull-out bed.

This unusual and well-preserved late 18th-century estate building was likely constructed for parties or entertainments and features unique reused timber frame cladding and several interesting Gothic interior features.