Whitethorn Cottage

Whitethorn Cottage is a house that was formerly two cottages, likely built in the late 17th century, with alterations made in the late 20th century. The structure features framed construction, with the ground floor built in Flemish bond brick and the first floor tile-hung, along with brick stacks.

The house faces north and is situated along Brenchley Road. Originally, it appears to have been two cottages, each with a main room heated by an end stack and a service room in a rear outshut, with entrances leading into a central passage. The partitions of this passage have been removed, and the house is now accessed from the left (east) side.

The exterior is two storeys high, plus an attic, and has a symmetrical three-bay front. The roof is hipped at the ends and features projecting end stacks with tile-hung set-offs. The windows are 2- and 3-light casements from the 19th and 20th centuries, with the ground floor windows having two panes per light.

Inside, exposed carpentry includes a step-stopped crossbeam in the east room. There are open fireplaces, with the right-hand fireplace featuring a plain lintel and brick jambs. The wall framing is visible down to the sole plate on the rear wall, with the posts having formed jowls. The roof has a clasped purlin structure, although some of the timbers have been replaced.