Fern Cottage

Fern Cottage is a house in a row, dating to 1868. It is constructed of squared rubble with a slate roof and has cast-iron railings. The house is set back from the street at an angle, parallel to the adjacent properties Nos 8 and 12. It follows a symmetrical central hall and staircase plan. The front elevation has two storeys and three windows, featuring 12-pane sashes in painted stone surrounds with stooled granite sills. A central original 6-panel door is sheltered by a flat-roofed, original glazed porch. Small gable stacks are present, along with box eaves. The right return is partly obscured by No 8, but includes a small arched casement to the attic space, and a stone panel inscribed “FERN COTTAGE/1868” at first floor level, featuring projecting verge and thin barge-board. The left return is rendered and has a similar small light to the attic. The rear elevation has two small 2-light small-pane casements at first floor, with a small central vertical light with margin-panes above a similar ground-floor light retaining tinted glass. The entrance front is connected to the rear of the adjacent No 12 by a short length of rubble wall with a plank door in an arched opening. The interior features a straight flight of stick baluster staircase with a cutstring. The front windows have panelled shutters and breast panels, and original panelled doors are present. The first floor was not inspected. Across the front of the property, cast-iron railings run along a small stone curb wall, with alternately hooped and single rails and fleur-de-lys finials, and a central matching gate. These railings are attached to No 12 on the left, and return to the front of No 10 on the right. The property remains substantially unaltered externally and is important for the continuity of the street.