Hornash

Hornash

A detached cottage probably of the late 18th century, extended to the north in the late 20th century with some interior remodelling. The building was damaged by fire in 2019.

The cottage is constructed of timber-framed walls with weatherboard cladding; the west wall is rendered with exposed timber framing visible. The roofs are tile-covered. There are two brick chimney stacks: a shouldered stack to the south and an end stack to the east, both mostly of red brick.

Originally square on plan, the main ground floor room was heated by an inglenook fireplace and had a winder staircase leading to the upper floor rooms. Part of this staircase survives against the original north external wall in the north-east corner of this room. The current interior plan-form appears largely to be of the 20th century, though elements of the historic plan remain.

The building is two storeys with oversailing, hipped roofs and a double-pile roof arrangement at the east elevation. The north, east and south elevations have modern weatherboard cladding and variously arranged boarded-up windows, believed to be late 20th century. The north elevation has two projecting late 20th century dormer windows with tiled roofs at the attic level. A porch has been added at the east elevation with windows on either side and three windows on the first floor. A late 20th century modern stack lies at the point where the earlier core and north extension join.

At the south elevation, off-centre, is a substantial shouldered chimney stack, wide at the base to accommodate the inglenook within, with a collapsed stack above. The brickwork comprises red brick with occasional dark purple brick headers, generally laid in Flemish bond but with mixed bonding indicating later patching and rebuilds. To the left of the stack is a boarded-up doorway.

The west elevation displays exposed timber framing in four bays, comprising a sole plate, midrail and storey posts of moderate scantling, with modest close studwork of thin scantling and straight diagonal bracing. Near the centre is a boarded entrance, flanked by bow windows, with two windows above.

The ground floor is of concrete construction with rotten sole plates remaining. The timber framing to the external walls and internal partition walls of studs and diagonal bracing survive, as do the floor frames comprising bridging beams and joists, but are greatly charred in places, particularly at the centre of the building. The original front wall (an internal partition wall between the historic core and north extension in 2021) retains some original framing and white-washed weatherboarding near the remnant of the winder staircase in the main ground floor room. The framing is modest, with simple, nailed jointing. The inglenook fireplace in this room has a timber bressumer but shows evidence of much brick repair and rebuilding.

At the first floor, the wall plate appears to survive along with timber-framed partition walls, some without charring, though they are crudely finished with inconsistent scantling incorporating many reused timbers. The ceilings have bridging beams and small section rafters, with varying ceiling levels—one room at wall plate level and another at collar level.

The roof structure has partially collapsed and evidently suffered fire damage. Where observed, it comprises a ridge piece with hip rafters and common rafters, some of which are modern replacements. At the centre of the building is a charred, substantial modern king-post truss. The surviving doors throughout are modern, planked types.