Swiss Cottage

SELATTYN AND GOBOWEN C.P. WHITEWELL LANE (east SJ 23 SE side) 4/49 Swiss Cottage II Shown on O.S. map as Brogyntyn Cottage. Estate cottage. Early C19 with later additions and alterations. Rendered uncoursed limestone rubble with 2-span gable-front slate roof to front; 3- sided verandah to rear is of wooden post construction (with bark still attached) on padstones around central pedimented brick and rubblestone block with quartzite facing; slate roof. Rustic Gothic style. 2 storeys to front, one storey to rear. Front section has one mid-C20 casement on each floor to each gable with 4-panel door (top panels now glazed) and segmental-headed overlight under late C19 gabled hood immediately to left of centre. Purple engineering brick valley stack to rear at junction with rear range. Cobbled verandah has arcade of 3 x 2 bays with pointed arches; corner posts replaced by C20 rendered brick pillars. Quadripartite vaulting with branches acting as ribs, wooden bosses and halved timbers as infill. Triple-backed timber seat at end of right 'walk' with remains of another to left. Each walk has a C19 French window with Gothic Y-tracery, to centre to front walk and to back to left and right. Nail-studded door with pointed arch to right of end bay to right side gives access to small room with vaulted plaster ceiling: quatrefoil pattern and foliated boss. Interior. Appears octagonal in plan with elaborate plaster vaulting springing from slender clustered columns with stiff-leaf capitals; foliated bosses. Pointed arched opening to each face with crocketed ogee finial, those to centre and front with stained glass windows, remainder with inset bookcases, that to rear left corner having complete set of false 'books' many with titles alluding to the concealed location and romantic character of the building. Bookcases including that to rear corner, which leads to front part of cottage, open outwards to give access to space behind octagonal walls and to loft in roof space. Perpendicular-style marble fireplace with quatrefoils to spandrels set in opening to back wall. Suspended wooden floor. Rear right- hand room of front part of cottage has plaster boss to ceiling. The octagonal- shaped room of the cottage is reputed to have been used for clandestine romantic assignations in C19. Information from tenant (May 1986).

Listing NGR: SJ2713531351