19 The Leys

19 The Leys is an early to mid-17th century timber-framed house of two bays and two storeys, built on the north-west side of a large plot.

The structure comprises pegged timber framing of square panels with infill of earth daub on a wattle framework. It is supported on a deep rubble stone plinth and covered in pebbledash render. The roof is covered in concrete tiles.

The rectangular two-storey house has a pitched roof with a modern brick chimney stack rising through the original firehood on the north-west slope at the south-west end. The long south-east elevation has two ground-floor windows and two horizontal windows above, all replaced in the 20th century and currently boarded over. Underneath the render, the stone plinth is visible, along with the wall plate and storey post marking the bay division. On the long north-west elevation the wall plate is similarly apparent beneath the render. The fenestration is irregular: a small barred window just above ground level on the left, a small square window on the first floor, and a larger ground-floor window on the right.

The north-east gable end has been exposed following the removal of a single-storey outbuilding range, revealing the stone plinth and original end wall timber framing. This includes the sill beam resting on the plinth, the lower halves of wall posts, a tie beam, two storey posts with three rails, and principal rafters of the truss visible beneath the render. Four of the six exposed panels retain original wattle and daub infill with plaster coating remnants; the other two are filled with handmade red brick. The south-west gable end shows more timber framing, including jowled wall posts and a tie beam strengthened by convex braces, along with principal rafters and a collar beam. The tie beam has been cut through for a door. Brickwork evidence shows where floor joists rested on the bridging beam during a later addition. The ground floor is rendered but two posts either side of a formerly internal plank and batten door are discernible, with brick infill panels above.

Interior: The ground floor contains one large room in the south-west bay and two smaller rooms in the north-east bay. The first floor has one room to each bay. The south-west bay room features a heavy chamfered and stopped spine beam with contemporary joists. A substantial bressumer with deep inner chamfer, supported by posts, frames a large fireplace opening where a 20th-century tiled fireplace has been inserted into the inglenook. The sill beam is exposed on the north-east side and cut for two doorways fitted with 20th-century doors; it is boxed in on two other walls but likely survives. The wall plate is exposed on three sides, though cut for a window on the north-west. Two posts on both north-west and south-east walls possibly indicate original window positions; a post on the north-east wall supports the spine beam. The chamfered spine beam continues into the north-east bay, painted white along with the joists. The smaller north-west room of this bay is whitewashed with fitted shelves. Timber framing is not internally exposed in the north-east bay, but given its external exposure on the north-east end, it is reasonable to assume total or partial survival beneath plaster.

The first floor is accessed via a straight flight with winder in the south-west corner through a plank and batten door with a spring latch of probable late 18th or early 19th-century date. The bay division features a principal rafter truss with side purlins supported by a collar beam and strengthened by straight wind braces. Straight braces also connect wall posts and tie beams. The roof is ceiled above collar beam level. Wall plates are exposed on the long north-west and south-east walls, accompanied by two posts possibly indicating original window positions. A large timber firehood is positioned on the south-west wall. A central door in the bay division allows views of the north wall plate and part of the wall plate and roof truss of the north-east gable end.