The Old Cottage

The Old Cottage is a cottage, originally consisting of two bays, with a later 18th-century extension. It dates from circa 1590 and was altered in the 18th century. Originally, it had two bays facing southeast, with an external stack at the left end, now incorporated into the 18th-century extension. A further 18th-century stack and extension were added to the right, creating four bays in total and originally forming two cottages, each with a central stack. The cottage is one storey with attics. It now has four 20th-century casement windows, and two more in gabled dormers. A plain boarded door sits within a gabled porch, which is of 20th-century origin. The original section of the cottage features jowled posts, close studding with curved braces trenched to the inside, stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops, plain joists of horizontal section supported on original pegged clamps, and a clasped purlin roof with arched wind bracing. The left end of the original section is of interrupted tiebeam construction, incorporating a chamfered girt with lamb’s tongue stops, and blocked unglazed windows on both storeys. There are two large wood-burning hearths, altered in the 20th century to accommodate grates. Original features include one moulded door, other plain ledged doors, and some original floorboards. Internal tiebeams have been severed.