Chequers

Chequers is a house that dates from the late 16th century or early 17th century, originally designed as a lobby entrance house. It was refronted around 1800 and features a projecting wing from around 1750 at the front. The building is timber-framed and sits on a sandstone plinth, with an exposed box frame on the rear elevation's first floor above a ground floor of brickwork from around 1800. The front is encased in diaper brickwork from the same period, while the sides are weatherboarded. The roof is hipped and tiled, with central and end brick chimneystacks. The house has two storeys with irregular fenestration, primarily consisting of 19th-century casements. There is a stringcourse at the end left bay and a 20th-century wooden doorcase of Georgian style, featuring a flat hood, pilasters, and a panelled door. The front also includes a projecting one-bay brick wing from around 1800. The rear timber framing was at one point covered, likely by weatherboarding, as indicated by surviving nail holes. There is a 20th-century brick lean-to at the rear right. Inside, the building features an early 17th-century open fireplace with a wooden bressumer, a salthole, and a chamfered spine beam with run-out stops. The circa 1750 wing has a spine beam with one-inch chamfers. There is also an 18th-century fireplace with a brick surround. The first floor displays exposed box framing and jowled posts. Historically, this building served as an ale house known as 'The Star' before being converted into three cottages and later restored to a single residence.