West Antony Cottage

West Antony Cottage

House, circa 1600, with a 17th-century alteration to the hall. The lower end was probably removed in the mid-18th or 19th century. Some windows have been replaced, and a small 20th-century addition was made. The building is constructed of sandstone rubble with a slurried slate roof, hipped to the right, with a ridge stack positioned between the hall and inner room, and a front lateral hall stack.

The plan represents the through passage, hall, and inner room of a three-room house. The hall bay was extended to the front, and a stair tower stands to the rear of the inner room. The hall is heated by a front lateral stack, while the inner room is heated by a ridge stack rather than a gable end stack. The house is now entered through a 20th-century porch on the right side, directly into the inner room. This porch is set in the angle between the inner room and a single-storey 19th-century kitchen wing on the right side to the rear. A straight stair was inserted in the left side of the passage during the 19th century, possibly indicating that the house was dual-occupied before the lower end was demolished. The stair tower may be an addition made after the first phase of building, contemporary with the extended hall bay.

The front elevation is two storeys. To the left is a 6-pane light at ground floor, replacing the original front passage entry, with a single light under the eaves above. The hall stack is slightly brought forward to the right. The hall bay has a 12-pane horizontal sliding sash at ground floor with a concrete lintel, and a 2-light 8-pane casement under the eaves. On the right side of the hall bay is a small unglazed timber round-headed lancet at ground and first floor levels (blocked at ground floor). The inner room to the right has a 2-light casement at ground floor with L hinges. The right side features a 20th-century glazed porch set in the angle to the 19th-century addition, which has a single light to the front and a brick ridge stack; a 2-light casement with L hinges is positioned at first floor to the left. The left side has a rubble wall that has been rebuilt.

The rear elevation shows a 19th-century door to the passage on the right, set back within the wall to form a porch. The ground floor hall window to the left is a 4-light 8-pane casement with L hinges, with a 2-light casement under the eaves above. The stair tower has a pitched roof extended from the main roof, with a door to the left opening to a shed built around the base of the stair tower. A 19th-century addition to the left has a 20th-century window to the rear and to the gable end.

Interior

The house is entered through the porch to the inner room, which contains two rough-cut cross beams. A door with strap hinges opens to the rear, and a segmental-headed wooden-framed opening leads to the stair tower, which has a newel stair about one post.

The hall is reached through a 19th-century door and has a stone floor. Two chamfered beams with bar and run-out stops span the space. A granite fireplace serves the front lateral stack, with chamfered granite jambs and a 19th-century wooden mantel. An oven is positioned to the right. An oven projection extends into the wall joining the inner room. The rear window has a splayed reveal. A keeping hole is cut into the wall to the inner room. The doorway to the passage has a cambered head, and the passage itself has a stone floor.

At first floor, the room over the inner room features a door with strap hinges. The hall chamber is partitioned, with its fireplace now closed. A keeping hole is present in the rear wall, and there is an 18th-century 2-panelled door. The passage is open to the roof, where two rows of 19th-century purlins are visible. A straight stair has been inserted to the left side of the passage.