Rectory Gate Cottage

Rectory Gate Cottage is a house dating from the 17th century, with alterations made in the mid-19th century and late 20th century. It is constructed from timber framing with painted brick and rendered infill, set on a chamfered sandstone rubble plinth, and features plain tiled roofs. The building has a hall and cross-wing plan, with the hall section aligned north to south and the cross-wing at the north gable end, both comprising two framed bays. There are large sandstone external chimneys with brick stacks located at the rear upper bay of the main part and the cross-wing. The cottage is a single storey with an attic that includes dormers.

The framing consists of three panels from the sill to the wall-plate, with a long straight brace in the front elevation of the lower bay and short straight upper braces in the cross-wing. The west front elevation features mainly metal casement windows with plank weatherings; the ground floor of the main part includes a 3-light window, a 2-light window, and a rectangular light, along with two gabled dormers that have 2-light 20th-century casements and a blocked doorway that was in the former cross-passage position. A 19th-century brick stack is located to the right of the roof pitch. The gable end of the cross-wing has a 3-light ground-floor window and a 2-light attic window, with a ledged and battened door under a lean-to canopy on shaped brackets at the angle with the main part.

Inside, the cottage is noted for having two large fireplaces and a winder staircase. There is a 20th-century lean-to extension at the south gable end, and a large 20th-century addition was under construction at the north gable end at the time of the survey in December 1984. The house was part of the Vernon Estate and is prominently situated, retaining many original features.