1 And 2 Beaumont Cottages

Two adjoining estate cottages, likely dating from the late 16th century. They were originally part of the Beaumont charity, established from a legacy left by Henry Beaumont of Combe House, who died in 1590. The cottages were later sold, and land was purchased from which pensions are still paid. They are constructed of stone rubble, rendered below the eaves, with a thatched roof featuring a plain ridge, hipped at the right end, and gabled at the left end. A left-end stack and an axial stack are present.

The cottages originally faced south with a rear outshut. Number 2 has a single room on its plan, with a winder stack adjacent to the left-end stack and a rear service room in the outshut. Number 1 probably has two rooms on its plan, with an outshut at the right end (the interior was not inspected during the survey). The range may have originally contained three cottages, matching numbers 3 and 4 (formerly 3 cottages) located in a parallel range to the rear.

The asymmetrical, four-window front has eaves that are swept down on the right side. A 19th-century panelled front door is located to the right of Number 2, while a 19th or early 20th-century plank door is present in Number 1. The windows are likely 19th-century timber casements with small panes. A fire insurance sign is above the front door of Number 2.

Inside Number 2, the ground floor features two chamfered crossbeams with bar stops, and an open fireplace with chamfered jambs and a replaced lintel. A winder stair rises in the northwest corner near the stack. Number 1 likely retains interior features of interest as well.

The first floor of Number 2 reveals the feet of two slender, side-pegged jointed cruck trusses. Purlin ends from the roof structure of Number 1 are visible in the east partition wall, indicating that the roof structure is not continuous, and the roof structure of Number 1 is also likely to be of interest.

These cottages are a well-preserved pair with good interior features and form a pleasing group with numbers 3 and 4 to the rear, separated by a small courtyard. They occupy a key position within an exceptionally unspoiled village of traditional thatched houses.