Higham Cottages Shepherd'S Cottage

Shepherd’s Cottage and Nos 2 and 3 Higham Cottages are a house and barn of late 16th and 17th century origin, altered over time; cottage conversion occurred in the second half of the 19th century, with 20th-century alterations subsequently made. The ground floor is built of red brick with blue brick headers in a Sussex bond, while the first floor is tile-hung, incorporating earlier timber framing. The roof is covered with plain tiles. Originally a 3-bay barn constructed in the late 16th century, two bays were added to the south end in the 17th century; these, along with the southern bay of the barn, were used as a hall house. In the second half of the 19th century, the remainder of the barn was converted into two cottages.

The building is two storeys with an attic. It has diamond-paned metal casement windows. The west elevation has five first-floor windows. Shepherd's Cottage, on the right, features a 20th-century half-glazed stable door, flanked by windows with 2-light casements. The central cottage (No. 2) has a board door to the left of a 2-light casement, both with flat brick arches. An external stack is present with a gabled outhouse attached to the left. The left-hand cottage (No. 3) has a 20th-century addition that is not of particular interest. Five 2-light casements are visible on the first floor. A 20th-century dormer is located on the right. The roof is hipped, with a ridge stack on Shepherd's Cottage and one in the rear roof pitch on the left.

The rear elevation contains a glazed 20th-century door to Shepherd’s Cottage, alongside board doors for Nos. 2 and 3. Four 3-light casements are visible on each floor. A 20th-century single-storey addition and a first-floor window and dormer are seen on the right return.

Inside Shepherd’s Cottage, original features remain, including jowelled wall posts, old beams and joists, a large fireplace with a timber bressummer, old board doors, collared queen-post roof trusses, old purlins and rafters, and one remaining wind brace. The interiors of Nos. 2 and 3 have not been inspected.