Engelwood Firs

BROADHEMBURY BROADHEMBURY SY 10 SW

5/46 Firs and Engelwood 22.2.55

GV II

2 adjoining estate cottages, probably originally one house, the two end cottages of a long row of thatched cottages on the north side of the village. Early C17 or earlier, C20 renovations. Creamwashed rendered cob on stone footings; thatched roof with a plain ridge, half-hipped at the right end; axial stack with a modern brick shaft. Plan: Probably originated as a 3 room and cross or through passage plan, Engelwood, to the right, being the higher end with the hall stack backing on to a putative passage which may still survive in Firs (not inspected internally). Engelwood certainly appears to conform to traditional higher end plan with a large heated room to the left and an unheated smaller inner room to the right. The existing doorway to Firs may represent the position of the original entrance to the passage. The first floor of Engelwood consists of one large room to the right and a smaller room to the left. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical front with 4 first floor and 7 ground floor windows, the eaves thatch eyebrowed over 3 of the first floor windows and swept down at the right end (Engelwood). Engelwood, to the right, has a C19 or C20 plank front door with a slated porch hood and C20 windows, the first floor window with square leaded panes, the ground floor windows timber casements with glazing bars. Firs has a C19 or C20 plank front door to the right and a slated porch hood carried across an adjacent 1-light window as a pentice. Windows a mixture of C19 or C20 timber casements with glazing bars or C20 casements with square leaded panes. One 2-light window on the ground floor may be C18, with larger square leaded panes. Interior: Engelwood inspected. The 2 rooms are divided by a partition of oak studs, formerly with wattle and daub infill between, a framed partition rises above the division. A C20 stair has been introduced to the right of the partition. The left hand room has an open fireplace with a chamfered lintel and a bread oven; a chamfered axial beam survives in the right hand room. Roof: Engelwood preserves a side-pegged jointed cruck truss (apex not seen at time of survey) of at least early C17 origins. Exposed carpentry and an interesting roof may survive in Firs. These 2 cottages form the curved end of an impressive row of thatched cottages on the north side of the village and are part of an outstanding estate village centre.

Listing NGR: ST1014604806