The Old Cottage In The Grounds Of Frogshole Cottage

282/0/10016 22-AUG-02

CHOBHAM STEEP HILL The Old Cottage in the grounds of Frogshole Cottage

II

Squatter's cottage, later used for storage. Early C19 with some later C19 and early C20 modifications. Built of flimsy timberframing with midrail and brick infill in stretcher or Sussex bond, now painted. Tiled roof with off central brick chimneystack, rebuilt above the ridge, and external chimneystack to south, possibly containing breadoven. One storey three windows. Plan form is three heated rooms (living room and two bedrooms), with scullery and storeroom in rear outshut. EXTERIOR: Front or east elevation has three C19 casements. Wooden architrave to doorcase but door is Inter-War four panelled door and an Inter-War square porch has been added. Two later triangular brick buttresses have been added to the right for strengthening. To south a later C19 lean-to brick privy has been added with plank door incorporating ventilation holes and there is an external chimneystack. North end has timberframed gable. Rear or west elevation has brick outshut to southern two thirds and timberframed wall to remaining part. Outshut has C19 fixed casements to ends and gabled rear entrance with plank door. INTERIOR: Simple roof construction of pegged rafters without purlins and some additional later rafters added for stability, never ceiled. Back to back hearths. Inter-War panelled doors leading to outshot and living room. Floor reported to be original earth floor. HISTORY: Social historical interest as a rare unimproved example of an early C19 squatter's cottage built on the roadside verge by penniless agricultural labourers. This is the last unimproved example of a vernacular type once common in this area. 1845 Tithe Map shows a small enclosure on the site of the cottage, but not the cottage itself. 1873 OS map shows the cottage in its current configuration.