Forge Cottage

Forge Cottage is a cottage that dates from the 17th century or earlier, with later alterations and additions. It is timber framed and plastered, featuring a red pantiled left range, a red tiled hipped right crosswing, and a lower left range. There is a chimney stack located to the left of the main range and to the left of the crosswing. The roof extends forward to the right of the main range, forming a porch. The left range is one storey, the centre range is one storey with attics and has a gabled dormer, while the right crosswing is two storeys high. The building has a window arrangement of 1:2:1, consisting of vari-light diamond leaded casements. The main range has a plank and muntin door. Notably, George Smith, a blacksmith, lived here in 1796, as recorded in F.H. Erith's "Ardleigh in 1796," published in 1978.