The Forest

The Forest is a cottage dating from the 15th century and earlier, located in Hatfield Broad Oak. It features a timber-framed structure with plaster and a thatched roof, gabled at the north and half hipped on the south. The building is one storey high with attics and an eyebrow dormer on the west side. There is a small ridge line stack off centre and another small stack against the south flank. The windows are 20th-century metal casements with small panes, and the front door is positioned in a baffle entry in front of the stack. Originally a small open hall house, it has widely spaced studs, jowled posts, and notably curved external wall braces at both ends. There are remnants of a soot-blackened crown post or purlin rafter roof and original diamond mullioned windows. The northeast end tie beam has two pairs of very large notch lapped mortices from earlier use, and the main posts show reused features with passing brace sockets. An inglenook fireplace has been inserted, along with a wooden block inscribed with the year 1640.