Castle Cottage

CHASTLETON KITEBROOKEND SP23SW 1/40 Castle Cottage

GV II

House. Early C17 with later additions and alterations. Regularly coursed and dressed marlstone rubble; concrete tile roofs with coped verges to front gable of higher range. Original house probably an L-plan but higher range truncated to rear. 2 storeys with gable-lit attic to higher range. This has chamfered plinth (missing to rebuilt back wall) with Tudor-arched doorway to cellar and infilled opening to right to front gable; 3-light chamfered mullion window with drip-stone to each floor. Left return has similar 2-light mullion window on each floor and chamfered rectangular window lighting cellar. Lower range has 3-light mullion window (centre and right lights infilled) with dripstone on first floor to left and contemporary chamfered rectangular window with dripstone below to left. Partly infilled opening (probably a former doorway) to right has C17 dripstone and C20 two-light mullion window. Rebuilt integral end stack to right. Interior. Ground-floor room of higher range has chamfered spine beam with stepped ogee stops; corner fireplace with chamfered Tudor arch and moulded overmantel. C17 ledged plank door with strap hinges in chamfered wood surround with stepped ogee stops. Left ground-floor room of lower range has chamfered ceiling beam. Altered dog-leg oak staircase rising to attic with timber frame exposed on first floor; wide floor boards to both ranges on first floor. First-floor room of higher range same as that on ground floor except that it has a C19 cast-iron grate to fireplace. Attic has single butt-purlin cambered collar truss roof in 2 bays with rear truss very close to present back wall. Chamfered cross beam to cellar, which formerly continued to rear but now infilled to this part; cellar also below tower range but not accessible at time of resurvey (August 1987). Door made up of C17 square panelling with cocks head hinges in C20 addition to rear. Reputed to be the birthplace of Judge Jeffreys, some materials (including windows) from Castle Cottage are said to have been used in the building of nearby Brookend House (q.v.). C20 lean-to attached to right gable end of lower range and flat-roofed addition to rear are not of special architectural interest. [2481]

Listing NGR: SP2396130929