Billie's Cottage

Billie's Cottage is a farmhouse, now a house, dating back to the 15th century. It began as a timber-framed hall house and has undergone alterations in the late 16th century, the late 18th century, and the 20th century. In the 18th century, the timber frame was clad with squared and coursed chalk on a sarsen base, with some brick quoins, and the roof is thatched. The building comprises an original 15th-century L-shaped hall house. It is two and a half storeys high with a three-window front. Timber lintels are above the 20th-century front door and windows. Internally, entry is from the present front door, with a further door leading to the kitchen/service area in the rear wing. A first floor was inserted in the late 16th century, along with a north gable stack and an axial stack, backing onto a passage to the rear wing. In the late 18th century, the house was converted into two cottages. The parlour (to the right of the entry on the south-facing wing) and kitchen (in the rear wing) retain chamfered beams and joists, an ovolo moulded mantelshelf, and an oak gun rack over the parlour fireplace. The roof structure features 3 1/2 and 3-bay wings with raised cruck trusses, blades crossed at the ridge, and smoke-blackened rafters. Circular sarsen bread ovens are attached to the main fireplaces. A lean-to shed, made of sarsen walling and with a thatched roof, projects from the north gable wall.