Idle Waters, The Island

Idle Waters, located on The Island in Stratford St Mary, is a house with probable origins in the 16th century and alterations from the 17th century. It was refronted and divided into two dwellings in the early 19th century, before being renovated and restored back into a single dwelling around 1977. The building features a timber frame with a red brick front and a plain tile roof, along with a red brick stack. It stands two storeys tall, with doors at each end that relate to its 19th-century subdivision. The windows are renewed casements set under segmental arches, with similar windows below the eaves, including one that was inserted around 1977. A central ridge stack is present.

Inside, some of the timber framing is exposed. There is a somewhat rebuilt inglenook fireplace with a chamfered bressummer, along with a chamfered longitudinal beam and exposed joists that have tongue stops, some of which have been replaced. The paired service doorways, originally in the end wall to the left, have been re-set and feature chamfered Tudor arches, indicating a former service range at that location. On the first floor, there is a chamfered basket-arched fireplace, along with ovolo-moulded beams and tongue stops. The building has been reroofed but still retains a vestigial crown post.