Washdyke Cottage

Washdyke Cottage

This former farmhouse dates to around the 1720s and was subdivided in the late 19th or early 20th century.

The main building is constructed of limestone rubble laid to courses, with mid-20th century extensions of red brick laid in stretcher bond. The roof is covered with pantiles.

The farmhouse follows a lobby entry plan with a central entrance lobby behind which are back-to-back fireplaces heating two bays, and the stair positioned behind the chimney breast. Mid-20th century extensions flank the original structure, and a rear projection under a catslide roof adjoins 20th century single-storey outbuildings.

The two-storey farmhouse has three bays under a pitched roof. A central square chimney stack of beige brick with clay pots rises through the ridge. The first and second bays are lit on each floor by six-pane horizontal sliding sashes with timber lintels and sills, of probable 19th or early 20th century date. The central door opening is blocked up and pierced by a twelve-pane timber window of similar date under a wider timber lintel that was formerly above the door. In the last bay a plank and batten door has been inserted with a cambered brick arch of headers, again of similar date. To either side are mid-20th century red brick two-storey extensions of a single bay under pitched roofs with ridge stacks at the gable ends. These are lit on the ground floor by twelve-pane casement windows with metal glazing bars and concrete lintels and sills. The west extension also has a four-panel door under a concrete lintel. The return walls are lit on the first floor by casement windows: on the west wall by two eight-light windows and on the east by three six-light windows.

On the rear (north elevation) is a single-storey red brick outbuilding, probably added at the same time as the mid-20th century extensions, which has a flat roof and two plank and batten doors with strap hinges. This adjoins a stone projection under a catslide roof, lit by a sliding sash, which is likely part of the original outshut. Adjoining this to the right, against the west mid-20th century extension, is a red brick outbuilding under a mono-pitch roof of probable 19th century date, retained when the later extension was built. It has a small sliding sash and a chimney stack in the north-west corner above the copper.

In the interior of the former farmhouse, the central chimneys are flanked by the east and west bays. The west bay has a substantial chamfered bridging beam and joists, and the floor is lined with red brick, as is the lobby. The wide fireplace opening has a segmental brick arch and brick jambs with a wooden mantelshelf supported by brackets, and a wide cupboard to the right. The opening contains a cast-iron range stamped with the manufacturer's name 'Duckering Lincoln', probably added in the late 19th or early 20th century when the farmhouse was subdivided. Two-panel doors and plank and batten doors likely date to this period as well. The winder staircase behind the fireplace is in its original position. In the east bay the bridging beam has been encased and a 20th century fireplace has been inserted in the original fireplace opening. A copper to the right has been boarded over.

On the first floor of the east bay a substantial purlin is partially exposed. The west bay retains a small 19th century cast iron grate with a round arch inset and a lime-ash floor laid over laths and reeds. The original floor coverings may also survive in the east bay but they have been carpeted over. The principal rafter roof is constructed of sawn timbers and is not original.

The stone-built outshut houses a larder with wooden shelves, and the 19th century red brick outbuilding contains a brick copper with a lid, a deep ceramic sink, and a tiled floor.

The mid-20th century single-bay extensions retain doors with four horizontal panels and Bakelite knob handles, one small tiled bedroom fireplace surround, and floors laid with red square tiles throughout the ground floor. The rooms to the east and west both retain coal-fired enamel ranges consisting of an open grate with two different sized ovens on the same side which run at different temperatures. The flap in front of the fire basket can be lowered to allow greater radiant heat from the fire and the damper (the small circular feature in the grate door) can be rotated to control the draw of the fire and how much heat is generated. The ranges have a plain iron surround and a tiled hearth.