Swan House

Swan House is a house dating from the late 16th century, with alterations made in the early 19th century. It features a timber-framed structure that is plastered, with a weatherboarded apex and a front that is faced in colourwashed brick. The roof is very steep and covered with old red tiles, having both a hip and a gable at the north end. The house has two storeys and three windows, facing east. The lower openings have segmental arches and heavier stone sills. The first floor has recessed sash windows with 5/5 panes under the eaves, while the ground floor windows have 10/10 panes. There is a four-panel flush-beaded door located up four steps at the right-hand corner, and a blocked doorway to the left of the middle window. A heavy central red brick chimney with two diagonal shafts has been renewed, and there is an external gable chimney at the south end, likely from the 19th century. The house consists of four structural bays and has service rooms at the north with a cross passage behind the central chimney, which originally heated only the hall and the chamber above it. The parlour at the south was originally unheated. The rear wall and north gable display exposed framing, featuring close-studding and tension braces. The roof has clasped purlins, but the lightly cambered tie beams and sooted rafters at the service end may suggest that the roof has been rebuilt. This historic timber-framed house was known as The Swan Public House since 1805 and was previously called the Bucks Head. It holds special interest and is part of a picturesque group within the Conservation Area.