The Cottage

The Cottage is a house in Birstall that was originally two separate dwellings but has been converted into one. It consists of two parallel and linked sections built at different times. The oldest part, dating from the 16th century, is located in the front (east) range and features cruck framing, with tall crucks visible in the gable wall and another within. The roof is made of Swithland slate. The front elevation has a high rubble plinth and square panelled timber framing in the two left-hand bays, with closer studding on the right. There are two 3-light casement windows on the ground floor and two gabled dormers above.

To the rear, there is an outshut, and to the left is a later 18th-century section made of brick, also with a Swithland slate roof. This section has two casement windows with two and three lights on each floor, with the lower openings featuring cambered brick heads and a dentilled eaves cornice. The gable wall is partially built of rubble.

The rear range is three storeys high, with the lower two storeys built in the 18th century from painted rubble, while the upper storey is a 19th-century addition in brick. This section has three bays, a central doorway, and sash windows with cambered brick heads. Inside, the lower two floors feature various chamfered spine beams. In the older part of the house, there are two pairs of crucks and main ceiling beams, along with several fine 18th-century fireplaces, one of which has a marble bolection moulded surround and hob grate that originally came from the now-demolished Wanlip Hall.