Walnut Tree Cottage

HENLEY MAIN ROAD TM 15 SE 4/121 Walnut Tree Cottage - - II House, C15 or early C16. A quite-complete example of 3-cell open-hall house. 1 storey and attics. Timber-framed and plastered. Thatched roof, hipped at the left-hand (service) end. Axial C17 chimney of red brick, altered c.1800. Eyebrow casement dormers. Mid C20 small-pane casements and thatched gabled entrance porch with boarded door. The 2-bay open hall has a central truss with an arch-braced cambered tie-beam. The crownpost above is octagonal and once had 4-way arch-braces; these were unmorticed, being spiked to the post with nails. At the closed trusses studwork is widely-spaced; above tie-beam level the studding lacked infill, thus allowing the passage of heated air (and smoke) into the upper rooms at either end. Arch-braced studwork with blocked mullioned windows, some with square and some with diamond mullions. An upper floor was inserted into the hall in lace C16 or early C17 and a chimney placed against the cross-passage. Evidence remains for service-room doorways and the parlour doorway.

Listing NGR: TM1571351629