1-4 Station Cottages

MATERIALS: gault brick with brick dressings and slate roof covering.

PLAN: the long row of four cottages is tucked into a narrow strip of land between the north platform and the garden of the former station master’s house.

EXTERIOR: the two-storey row of cottages has a low pitched hipped roof with two symmetrically placed wide ridge stacks with oversailing courses and some circular pots. It has a brick plinth and brick string courses below the ground-floor and first-floor window sills. The two central cottages (Nos 2 and 3) have slightly projecting gabled entrance porches with four-centred arch openings. These are flanked by a narrow window with a cambered brick arch, and above the porch is a first-floor window positioned directly under the eaves. The windows and doors on Nos 2, 3 and 4 are of uPVC. The window openings on No. 3 have been altered, except for that on the right hand side of the ground floor. The end cottages (Nos 1 and 4) are lit by a single window on each floor, No. 1 retaining the original timber sashes which have eight-over-twelve panes on the ground floor and four-over-eight panes on the first floor. The return elevation of No. 1 has two bays with a gabled porch and original panelled door on the right hand side. There is a blind window opening on the left, whilst the two on the first floor have recently been opened up and three-over-three pane timber sashes inserted. The return elevation of No. 4 is similar except that it has lost its porch due to the erection of a narrow, single-storey C20 brick extension which is not of special interest. Each cottage has a back door and is lit by either two or three windows, the openings of some having been altered. No. 1 retains its original four-panelled door and sash windows.

INTERIOR: only No. 3 has been inspected internally. This retains its basic plan of two rooms to each floor, although a bathroom has been added on the first floor. The staircase has been replaced and the fireplaces have been blocked up. No. 1 retains two original doors and No. 2 is said to retain a fireplace but otherwise the interiors are thought to have been modernised.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the small outside lavatory building, to the east of the row, is constructed of gault brick and retains an original plank and batten door. The timber lean-to between this building and the extension to No. 4 is not of special interest.