Community Centre To North West Of Church Of St Tetha

Community Centre to North West of Church of St Tetha

A probable church house, now used as a community centre, dating to around the 16th century. The building stands to the north west of the Church of St Tetha, with the churchyard directly to its rear at a higher ground level. The structure is constructed of stone rubble with a slate roof featuring gable ends. Projecting stone rubble end stacks rise from both the north east (left) and south west (right) sides, though the shafts have been removed.

The building is rectangular in plan, measuring two storeys high with two or three rooms. The front elevation faces north west, with the ground sloping down gradually towards the south west. There are two entrances to the ground floor on the front elevation, and possibly a blocked door to the rear left. An external stone rubble and slate stair on the north east gable end provides access to the first floor. The ground floor was in the process of conversion from storage use as of 1986.

The interior plan is uncertain, but likely originally comprised a large room to the left and smaller service room to the right, both heated by end stacks. The original entrance position is unclear; it may have been positioned to the right of centre, opening directly into the right hand room with a plank and muntin partition screen on the higher left hand side. A possible blocked entrance to the rear left may have given direct access from the churchyard into the larger left hand room. Internal partitions have since been removed, the left hand fireplace has been blocked, and several 19th century fireplaces have been inserted on the front and rear walls.

The first floor retains original joists and six heavy cross beams with two slighter half beams at the ends. The left hand half beam is chamfered with stepped run-out stops. The first cross beam to the left is chamfered on the higher left hand side, directly opposite the fireplace, with complex moulding on the right hand side. The second, third and fourth beams all feature complex mouldings. The fifth beam has complex moulding on the higher north east side and a deep chamfer on the south west side, with mortice holes for a plank and muntin screen. The sixth beam has a heavy chamfer on both sides. All cross beams display fine quality mouldings and pyramid stops; the floor joists between the complex moulded cross beams have bead moulding, whilst those between the chamfered cross beams are unmoulded.

The roof structure comprises eight bays with five raised cruck trusses of 16th century date featuring pronounced curved feet and mortices probably for a lower tier of butt purlins. Two trusses on the left (north east) were replaced in the 19th century. The trusses are painted and the collars and apices are not accessible, making it unclear whether they are clean or feature internal partitions. A ceiling has been inserted below collar level. The masonry below the eaves line on the interior suggests the roof has been raised.

The north east fireplace on the first floor is asymmetrically placed in the gable end with what appears to be a blocked opening to the left (north west), possibly for a stair turret now removed.

The exterior shows the north west front elevation is two storeys with altered openings: a window and door opening to the left and a door and window opening to the right, with three windows above. The rear elevation is one and a half storeys, with ground level raised. Remains of earlier granite mullion window openings are visible, including a two-light mullion window to the rear right. Several blocked openings on the front elevation suggest later remodelling. A straight joint near the centre of the rear elevation indicates partial rebuilding of that wall.

The left hand fireplace features deep, slightly hollow chamfered jambs and lintels. The right hand fireplace has a roughly chamfered lintel, whilst 19th century lintels serve the fireplaces on the front and rear walls.

Historically, the first floor was used as a dame's school during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The ground floor was reputedly used by unmarried mothers, possibly explaining the insertion of additional fireplaces. The floor level was lowered in the late 20th century. This is a particularly interesting survival, possibly a rare example of a church house, notable for its uncertain plan and high quality complex moulded floor joists.