Numbers 1-4 Castle Cottages

SY 28 NW 8/44 24.7.85

BRANSCOMBE THE SQUARE, Vicarage Nos 1 - 4 (inc.) Castle Cottages

GV II

Row of 4 cottages. Mid to late C19 but with earlier origins. Mostly local stone rubble with some Salcombe stone ashlar dressings at the south end and some cob to rear; stone rubble stacks topped with C19 and C20 brick; thatch roof. Plan: row of 4 cottages built across the hillslope facing east-south-east, say east. They number 1 to 4 from left to right (south to north). Nos. 1 and 2 are 1- room plan cottages. No. 1 has a gable-end stack and No. 2 has an axial stack backing onto No. 1. Nos. 3 and 4 are 2-room plan cottages and share an axial stack in the party wall between them. The rear wall shows that the cottages were not built on an open site but incorporated and enlarged an earlier building. The rear wall of Nos. 1 and 3 is cob. Also a straight join in the rear wall suggests that the end room of No. 4 was an extension to the original 1-room plan cottage. The cottages are all 2 storeys. Exterior: irregular 6-window front of C19 and C20 replacement casements with glazing bars; 1 each to Nos. 1 and 2 and 2 each to Nos. 3 and 4. The first floor windows rise a short distance into the eaves. All have C20 part-glazed doors with contemporary gabled hoods. The roof runs continuously over all 4 cottages. It is hipped to right and gable-ended to left with shaped kneelers and coping. Interiors were not inspected but little carpentry detail is said to be exposed.

Listing NGR: SY2027888865