Brook Cottage

TL 40 SE NORTH WEALD BASSETT WEALD HALL LANE 6/2 Brook Cottage

GV II

Small hall house, late C16, extended in C18/19 and C20. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with red clay tiles (handmade on SW pitch of roof, machine- made elsewhere). 3 bays aligned approx. NW-SE, aspect SW, comprising a 2-bay open hall with storeyed bay to NW. Inserted axial chimney stack in SE bay of hall facing NW, c.1600. One-bay extension to NW, C18/19. C20 extension to NE. Single storey with attics. SW elevation, C20 oriel window, small C19 casement window, 2 C20 casement windows, gabled dormer with C20 casement window, all C20 windows leaded. Some framing exposed internally. Jowled posts, arched braces rising from posts to wallplates inside studs, not trenched. Bladed scarf in NE wallplate. Cambered tiebeam across hall with chamfered arched braces. Evidence of former inserted floor on clamps, now removed. Chimney stack of 33 cm briclcwork, wholly faced with plaster. Studded partition between hall and storeyed bay largely intact, smoke-blackened at top on SE side. Original floor of lodged longitudinal joists of horizontal section, unchamfered, with framed stair trap in S corner. Part of original stair of solid treads re- located in NW bay of hall, still providing access to original solar. Side- purlin roof with curved wind bracing. Framing of original lid wall, weathered, exposed in later extension. This is an exceptionally interesting example of a small house essentially medieval in its arrangement, but with constructional features usually associated with post-medieval houses. The facts that the hall remains open to the roof, and that the one original floor is largely intact, increase its architectural interest.

Listing NGR: TL4742704738