The Cottage

The Cottage is a house in Falmouth, believed to have been a dower house, likely built in the 18th century, with extensions added in the mid-19th century and 20th century. The original part features a rendered exterior on what is probably rubble, with a wheat-reed roof. The first extension has a painted killas rubble exterior with granite dressings and a hipped dry Delabole slate roof that has projecting eaves. There is a brick stack on the right side.

Originally designed as a two-room plan, the house was later extended with a wing at a right angle to the rear right and a double-depth wing on the right that projects at the front. In the 20th century, further extensions were made to the rear. The house is two storeys high and has a symmetrical three-window front for the original part, plus a one-window range at the front end of the right wing.

The original section has early to mid-19th century Gothic style three-light casement windows with latticed panes in the central lights and horizontal panes in the side lights, featuring arched heads with intersecting glazing bars. Some original crown glass panes remain, along with a four-panel door. The wing has a central late 19th or early 20th century horned sash window with margin panes in the original opening, above a canted pilastered bay window of the same period. The right-hand return features two original mid-19th century 12-pane hornless sashes on the first floor and a central segmental-arched window with margin panes. The rear includes some 20th century replicas of the Gothic-style windows.

Inside, the Cottage has a simple interior with a central staircase in the original part, featuring an oval open well, stick balusters, and turned newels. The bottom newel is marked with the letter S, likely representing the Stephens family, who lived here and operated a rope works at Ponsharden. The building retains original pegged trusses and thatching battens. Notably, this is the only building left in Falmouth with a thatched roof.