The Rectory

STRETHAM HIGH STREET TL 5174 (West Side)

24/20 The Rectory (formerly 5.2.52 listed under Front Street) - II*

Rectory. Possibly medieval but mainly late C17 or early C18 and later C18. Coursed clunch and reused limestone. Red brick and gault brick. Hipped roofs, plain tiled, with ridge stacks. Half H plan with medieval part forming a short wing on the north end. Main range two storeys and attic. Two later C19 dormers with hipped roof with bargeboarding. Original first and ground floor C18 openings now blocked or disturbed but shallow segmental header arches visible. Present fenestration at first floor is now of three twelve pane hung sashes. At ground floor a late C19 brick gabled porch. North wing also of two storeys and attic. Gault brick incorporating some reused dressed clunch and limestone. One similar dormer and two hung sashes, one of sixteen panes above a tripartite hung sash. The south crosswing is similar except that it does not incorporate stonework. The medieval part is on the north end of the north crosswing. Mainly coursed clunch. The roof is plain tiled, hipped, and probably C19. The front wall has a blocked early C18 first floor window with fleurons used in the blocking. At ground floor is a doorway in chamfered depressed arch and a loop window to the side. The rear wall was rebuilt in C19 in gault brick. Interior: Little of the medieval part is visible internally. Part has been sealed at both ground and first floors. It is thought that there was an undercroft with hall above. The features which indicate an early date are the thickness of the walls and the arch of the opening. There is a C19 staircase in the main part of the home. C19 plans and elevations for proposed alterations to the house, some of which were carried out, are at the Rectory.

Rev. S. Stitt. History of Stretham V.C.H. Cambs., Vol. IV

Listing NGR: TL5116874552