Church Cottage

TL 96 SW HESSETT THE STREET (WEST SIDE)

4/81 Church Cottage

GV II

House, late C14 and c.1500-1530. Alterations of C18, C19 and c.1970. 2 storeys (1 storey with attics until c.1976). 3-cell plan of open-hall form. Timber-framed and plastered. Concrete plaintiled roof with axial chimney, the shaft rebuilt in mid C20 red brick. Small-pane casements of c.1970 and gabled plaintiled entrance porch with half-glazed panelled door. A fragmentary mid/late C14 building of 2 bays forms the nucleus of the house. The main entrance doorway survives, with an arched head of vigorous ogee form. It appears to lead into a small open hall: to its right is an open truss with a concealed archbraced tiebeam, indicating a possible croglofft on the site of the present chimney. To left is evidence for a crosswing, demolished by C19. A 2-bay open hall with service-cell was added to right c.1500-1530. The open truss has an arch-braced tiebeam, the braces rising from shafts. A second open truss is adjacent to the present chimney which replaced in late C16 an original one of plaster. The service cell to right has very heavy lodged 1st floor joists. Tension braced close-studding. The end wall was half-hipped. The diamond-mullioned front window in the hall remains in part. Crownpost roof: square posts with thin 2-way braces. In late C16 an upper floor with good chamfered joists was inserted in the hall, and a lintelled open fireplace with limestone piers which were probably removed from the demolished Abbey of St. Edmundsbury. In C18, a 1st floor was inserted into the C14 hall and that structure was re-roofed. Major alterations of c.1970 included a rear extension and new higher roof over the entire medieval section.

Listing NGR: TL9362861847