Beech Cottage

Beech Cottage is a cottage dating from the 16th century, with 17th-century renovations. It is built of colourwashed brick and covered with pantiles. The structure consists of three cells and is a single storey with an attic. Originally timber-framed, the walls were replaced by brick in the 17th century, and the walls are battered with a floor inserted during the same period.

The east facade features an off-centre axial stack on the right side, with a mix of renewed, blocked, and inserted windows. There are two raking roof dormers. The south return, on the left, is made of tar-washed brick and has an inserted opening for the attic and another for the ground floor. The north return, on the right, has a plinth and features 3 and 2-light casements. The rear, facing west, has a forward addition on the right side, with two 20th-century 3-light casements and one raking dormer.

Inside, there is a large inserted stack made of later brick, with a fireplace in the central cell that has quarter mouldings on the bressumer and bridging beam. An additional stack has been added in the north cell. Many of the ceiling timbers have been renewed, but some retain lamb's tongue stops. The attic has thin gable walls above the tie beams and a five-bay roof with 14cm tenoned butt purlins and principal rafters. Although the interior ties have been removed, approximately 50cm of tie protrudes on either side of the north bay.