22-26 (CONS.), CHURCH LANE

Five cottages at 22-26 Church Lane, Ashington, originally comprising two cottages of the early 19th century with later extensions to the north and west.

EXTERIOR

The cottages are arranged in an L-shape. The main eastern façade is constructed of flint with rubbed red brick quoins, window arches and a stringcourse, beneath a hipped slate roof. This section originally comprised two two-storey cottages—one double-fronted and one single—but is now divided into four units (part of No. 23 and Nos. 24, 25 and 26). Two projecting brick extensions extend to the rear, and parts of the original flint and brick rear wall remain visible adjacent to these. Most windows are modern uPVC replacements.

The perpendicular range (Nos. 22 and 23) consists of an original part of the double-fronted house together with later extensions to the west and north which lack special architectural interest. The part of the wall facing east (No. 23) is flint with brick quoins and a brick stringcourse, matching the double-fronted house. Elsewhere, the walls are rendered brick. Windows are uPVC and doors are modern.

INTERIOR

Inside the perpendicular range is an original stair in No. 23 and timber framing elements in No. 22, including the stairwell and principal beams in the main downstairs room and on the upper floor. The extended sections of Nos. 22 and 23, particularly the northern halves of each house, contain no original features and lack special interest. The interior of Nos. 24, 25 and 26 was not inspected.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES

A long detached single-storey outbuilding stands to the rear of the terrace, constructed of red brick with a hipped tiled roof and timber doors.

HISTORY

The first edition Ordnance Survey map of circa 1875 shows the terrace originally comprised just two houses in an L-shaped arrangement with a party wall dividing them. A photograph from the turn of the 20th century confirms this, depicting a large double-fronted house to the north and a smaller cottage to the south with a door on its return facing the street. The perpendicular range running back from the larger house is partially visible in this photograph and appears to have formed part of the double-fronted house, as also shown on the Ordnance Survey map. This range shares the same flint construction to its eastern front and hipped slate roof, but has since been extended northward during the second half of the 20th century.