Croft Cottage (Cottage South West Of Yew Tree Cottage)

Croft Cottage is a farm cottage dating from the 17th or 18th century, with additions and alterations made in the 19th and 20th centuries. The timber frame has wattle and daub infill to the internal walls, and brick nogged infill to the exterior, with rubble stone chimney stacks at each gable end. The roof is slate covered. The building is two storeys high, with a central staircase, and originally appears to have comprised two rooms on each floor. The southern end of the cottage has partially collapsed, though the lower portion of the chimney stack remains standing.

The east front displays four-by-three cells of small framing at its northern end, with some timbers that appear to be re-used, and brick infill which was formerly rendered. A doorway is positioned to the left, with empty cells without infill on either side, and a first-floor window to the right. The north gable end is of rubble stone walling across its width, with a brick flue above the stone stack, render, and a small window to the wall to the right. A circular bread oven attached to the west of the stack has largely collapsed, revealing part of the brick lining. The west flank has lost framing cells at its northern end due to collapse, although four cells remain at the southern end. The southern half of the west flank has suffered roof collapse, but the lower cells of the exterior walling are still intact, with 19th-century brick infill that was formerly rendered. Here, there are signs of re-used timbers and iron straps. An angled timber brace is located to the right of the centre, dating from after the collapse of the southern end, when a lean-to was constructed against the exposed internal partition. The southern gable end, of rubble stone walling, has partially collapsed, with a rounded projection left of the chimney stack indicating the former position of a bread oven.

The interior of the northern end features ceiling beams at ground floor level, including a spinal beam with run-out stops that supports floor joists. The roof at this end has exposed purlins. Studded walls are present either side of the staircase bay; the north wall has close studs, and the south wall shows a doorway at first floor level leading to the former southern end, which is now blocked. A 19th-century cast iron range and mantle shelf are at the north gable end at ground floor level, alongside a 19th-century plank door with strap hinges. The staircase to the upper floor is a 20th-century addition.