Iron'S Lane Cottage

HILDENBOROUGH NIZELS LANE (west side) TQ 54 NW 4/171 Iron's Lane Cottage - II

Small house. Circa late C17/early C18. Framed construction on a Kent ragstone plinth, the ground floor framing with brick infill exposed at both ends, the front elevation tile-hung; peg-tile roof; brick stacks.

Plan and Development: A south-facing house, 2 rooms wide with a probably later rear outshut. The principal room, a kitchen/parlour, at the right (east) end, is heated from a projecting end stack with a small unheated service room- to the left (west) with a straight flight stair between. The present entrance is directly into the heated room with a second door on the left (west) end. It is not clear whether the outshut is integral or secondary.

Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window front with a C20 front doorway and door, slightly to right of centre. 1-, 2- and 3-light C20 timber casement windows. The right end stack is massive with set-offs, a C20 axial stack has b-en inserted to left of centre. The side walls of the outshut are brick. Roof, half-hipped at left end, gabled at right end.

Interior: The right hand room has a chamfered stopped crossbeam and exposed joists. The fireplace has been blocked but the oak chamfered lintel survives intact. The service room has exposed joists.

Roof: Not inspected but early carpentry said to survive.

The house is said to have been named after an iron railway bridge nearby. It may have been a keeper's cottage on the Nizels estate.

A small traditional house with interior features of interest.

Listing NGR: TQ5424749928