1-6 Hathaway Hamlet

A row of six cottages, dating from the 17th century with alterations and additions in the 18th and 19th centuries. The cottages are timber-framed with brick infill on a rubble plinth, with brick and tile construction and brick stacks. The arrangement is in an L-shape.

The south elevation has a timber-framed centre with a later recessed brick wing to the left and a brick right-end wing attached to a projecting brick wing. The central section features two bays of square framing to the left (No.2), and one bay of storey-height posts with middle rails with bulging brick to the right end (No.3). The entrance to No.2 has a wide-boarded door, while the entrance to No.3 has a 20th-century split door. The windows are mostly 2-light small-paned casements, with one small leaded casement to the third bay. There are four raking dormers, one with some leaded glazing. A stack is located on the front of the ridge, and an end axial stack is present.

The left-end wing is two stories high with a three-window range (No.1), topped with a modillioned brick cornice. It features a segmental-headed entrance and windows with 2-light segmental-headed casements. The left return has a 3-light casement to the ground floor and a 2-light casement to the first floor, both under segmental heads. An end stack is present.

The right-end wing is also two stories high and was extended to the south in the 19th century, featuring a modillioned brick cornice. There is a segmental-headed entrance (No.4) and window to the ground floor of the inner return. All windows have casements, and the end has an entrance to No.5. The outer return has varied outshuts and fenestration. The entrance to No.6 is located to the right end. Cross-axial stacks are present. The rear elevation displays similar details, including a coped gable to the left end (No.6).

Hathaway Hamlet dates from the 17th century, initially comprising two or three cottages and farm buildings. In the late 18th century, it was converted into a workhouse and almshouses for the parish of Old Stratford, before being superseded in 1836 by the union workhouse in Stratford.