Broomstick Cottage

Broomstick Cottage is a timber-framed building dating to the late 17th century, with subsequent additions and alterations in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The southwest gable wall has been rebuilt in brick. The southeast elevation is encased in brick, the northeast gable is rendered in concrete over lime and pebbledash, and the northwest elevation is rendered in concrete. The gable roof is covered in corrugated metal, which may have been laid over an earlier thatch covering. An original central door opening remains on the southeast front, although the existing door and a modern entrance porch are not original. A modern side entrance porch has been added to the southwest end, along with a lean-to extension to the northeast gable. Two 19th-century windows are on the gables, the southeast elevation has vertical sliding sash windows, and the northeast elevation features modern replacements. The interior retains exposed timber framing throughout, except within the rebuilt southwest gable. The building has a lobby entrance plan with two large, back-to-back fireplaces, each with a bressumer; one fireplace contains the remains of a bread oven. A small service wing is located on the southwest end, although the partitioning wall within that wing’s original status is uncertain. The ground floor has brick flooring laid in a herringbone pattern. The first floor may be a later addition. The roof structure comprises common rafters with collars to the gables, a thin ridge piece, and thin rafters of hedgerow timbers with some evidence of lath and plaster between. The building retains much of its original timber framing and displays a lobby entrance plan.