The Cottage

The Cottage is a detached house located in Bishopstrow, originally listed as Drayton's School. It dates from the mid-17th century, with alterations and an addition made to the south in the mid-18th century. The building features Flemish bond brickwork with stone dressings from the 18th-century addition, a tiled roof, and brick stacks. It has a T-plan layout and is two stories high with eight windows that have 12-pane sashes.

The 18th-century section on the left includes a door with six fielded panels set within a moulded architrave, topped by a flat wooden hood supported by brackets. To the left, there is a two-storey canted bay with sashes that display lozenge diaper decoration, along with chamfered rusticated quoins. The first floor features a plat band and a sash window above the door, along with a moulded stone cornice and a blocking course with stone coping. The 17th-century section on the right has four small flush sashes on both the ground and first floors, with this facade being a refacing from the 18th century that includes a blocking course. The right return has 20th-century casements set into a rubble stone wall.

At the rear, there is a 17th-century wing that has a 20th-century door and casements, while the first floor was rebuilt in the early 19th century with a sash window, along with casements and sashes to the right of the main building. A 20th-century lean-to extension is located to the left.

Inside, the property features an open fireplace with a chamfered lintel on stone jambs and a chamfered beam with run-out stops in the rear wing. The main range from the 17th century has chamfered beams with run-out stops, one of which has a deep chamfer. There is an 18th-century square stone fireplace with chamfered jambs and lintel, along with doors that have two fielded panels and L or H hinges. The 18th-century addition includes a stair hall with a round arched opening featuring a keystone and imposts. The staircase is notable for having three turned balusters per tread, with shaped cheeks and a moulded ramped handrail. The drawing-room door has six fielded panels in a moulded architrave, and the marble fireplace surround features a rococo frieze and cornice, along with a dentilled ceiling cornice. On the first floor, there is a deeply chamfered beam from the 17th century with bar stops, an 18th-century square beaded fireplace surround, and doors with either two or six fielded panels and H hinges, all framed by beaded architraves.