Nos. 15, 16 AND 17, LITTLE GADDESDEN

A terrace of three former estate cottages dating from the early 19th century, incorporating 17th-century timber framing from an earlier house.

MATERIALS AND STRUCTURE

The terrace is constructed of plum and grey coloured brick with red brick dressings, and machine-made clay roof tiles. The building is two storeys tall with an attic, beneath a pitched roof with deep verges. The plan is broadly rectangular, with a 20th-century cross-wing extension to the rear of number 17.

EXTERIOR

The principal elevation contains the main entrance to each of the three cottages, accessed via a small pitched-roof porch to each unit. Windows are timber casements with small panes and red brick heads. An axial brick chimney stack with clay pots stands between numbers 15 and 16.

Number 16 has a two-storey gabled range which was rebuilt during the 19th century. Number 15 has a single-storey continuous outshot added during the mid to late 19th century. The rear elevation features timber casement windows with glazing bars and small panes.

To the rear is a large extension from the 1980s: a two-storey cross-wing with a single-storey extension and conservatory added to the southern flank of number 17. The original chimney stack to number 17 survives within the 20th-century extension, although the hearth has been rebuilt. uPVC windows are present to the flank.

INTERIOR

Number 17 comprises a small entrance hall with a modern staircase to the first floor. To the right is a dining room, part of the original range, which retains much of its timber frame, including a large spine beam with chamfered joists and lambs-tongue stops, main posts, studs, girding beam and groundsill. Adjoining to the rear is a lounge containing the remodelled hearth and remains of the timber frame from the earlier outshot, incorporated into the 20th-century rebuild. To the left of the hall is a kitchen, part of the 20th-century rebuild, alongside a wet room and conservatory. The upper floor comprises a small landing with wall posts and cross-beams, three bedrooms and a bathroom. The right-hand front bedroom retains the majority of the timber frame, including girding beams, studs, tension braces, wall plates and mid rail.

Number 16 has a main living room, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. The living room features a chamfered and stopped post and a spine beam with chamfered joists. A modern rebuilt hearth is present, with an arched recess to the left suggestive of the remnants of an earlier bread oven. A staircase in the far left corner leads to the upper floor; a door in the opposite corner leads through to the dining room and kitchen. The kitchen and dining area contain chamfered posts, groundsill, a large spine beam, cross-beams and studs with brick nogging infill. The original brick paviour floor survives in the under-stair cupboard. The first floor comprises two bedrooms and a bathroom, with a study and loft space above. Much timber frame is apparent at the upper storeys, including wall-plate, studs, mid rail and curved bracing in the bedrooms, and queen-post trusses at each end. Much of the original timber survives in the roof, though augmented with modern sawn timbers for reinforcement.

Number 15 comprises a living room and kitchen at ground-floor level, with a chamfered spine beam, cross beams and wall plate in the living room. A dogleg stair leads from the kitchen to the upper storey, which comprises a bedroom and bathroom. Much of the timber frame is apparent at the upper storey, including posts, wall plate, bracing, tie beams and spine beams. In the attic space, many of the original roof timbers survive, including a queen-post truss with brick infill panels. Modern sawn timbers have been added to reinforce and strengthen the roof structure.

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

The building dates from the early 19th century and was created from an earlier three-and-a-half-bay house dating from the 17th century, incorporating much of the latter's timber framing. The terrace likely originally had a single-room plan, though its form has evolved. Various extensions and alterations have been undertaken: in the 19th century, the upper section of the rear gable wing to number 16 was rebuilt, and a lean-to rear outshut was added to number 15. In the 1980s, a bay was added to the southern flank of number 17, the entrance was relocated from the gable end to the front, and a two-storey projecting rear gable wing was added to the rear.