Briar Cottage

Briar Cottage is a late 17th-century cottage, originally two separate dwellings, with the western part probably being the earlier. A large extension of circa 1905, now a separate dwelling, is not of special interest. A 20th-century glazed porch stands in the angle between the southern and eastern sections.

The cottage is constructed of cob, rough-cast rendered and painted, with a thatched roof and brick stacks. The windows have timber mullions with leaded lights, with fixed and casement sections, some retaining historic glass.

Briar Cottage is L-shaped. The former western cottage is L-shaped, running alongside the road, with a short projection to the north-east; it possibly originally had a lobby-entry plan with a central stack and an entrance to the west. The former eastern cottage is rectangular on plan, extending eastwards in line with the north-east projection of the western cottage. The principal entrance to Briar Cottage is now in the south-facing elevation, towards the garden.

The cottage is of two storeys. The south-facing principal elevation has a central doorway with modern glazed doors protected by a thatched porch, flanked by three-light windows with timber mullions and 10 leaded panes to each light, with similar windows above. A 20th-century glazed porch stands in the angle between the southern and eastern sections, with modern glazed doors in the north wall giving access to the dining room, and a modern arched opening giving access to the kitchen to the west. Above is a two-light window. In the south face of the southern projection is a three-light window; in 1987 there was a door in this position, and it is thought that this wall, which is relatively thin, may have been re-built. There is a two-light casement to the first floor. The western, street elevation has irregularly placed windows: a three-light window on the ground floor to the north with a two-light window above, and another two-light ground-floor window to the south, possibly originally a door; to the south, at a high level, is a small three-light window. The western part of the north elevation is obscured by Huntley Lodge; the eastern part has a ground-floor window to the east and two small horizontal windows beneath the eaves, the one to the west dating from circa 1987 works. Within Huntley Lodge at first-floor level is a small casement window, which formerly lit the north-east corner of the original western cottage.

The ground floor has three main rooms. In the original western cottage, the kitchen is to the south; the chimney opening of the central stack to the north wall has been filled. To the west is the entrance to the dining room, possibly representing the original lobby, with a window, possibly originally the doorway, to the west. Running through the dining room is an axial beam with waney edges. The fireplace has been blocked but retains its timber bressumer. The window embrasure to the west has late 18th-century or early 19th-century panelling with recessed panels and a window seat. In the living room to the north are two transverse beams with scroll-stop chamfers, thought to have been enhanced during the circa 1987 works. The joists are chamfered and numbered in the eastern bay; these details are thought also to have been enhanced. The fireplace in this room was re-opened circa 1987, exposing the original timber bressumer. At the east end of the room is a small segmental-arched chimney opening, probably dating from the 18th century; this has been blocked. Rising from the room to the north is a timber stair with chamfered detailing, installed circa 1987. The first floor originally comprised three rooms on the same plan as the ground floor but received a number of divisions circa 1987, with most joinery and fittings of that date. In the easternmost bedroom, the chimney has been filled, but a small cupboard recess remains in the south-east corner. The roof over the original western cottage retains its timber trusses, with principal rafters crossed and pegged at the apex, ridge piece, collars and purlins; there has been some replacement of timbers, but the roof is largely intact. The cob chimney rises through the centre of the roof space.