Forder Forder Cottage

DARTINGTON SHINNER'S BRIDGE SX7862 - SX7962 Forder (or Forder cottage) 15 .12.86 12/152 II

Farmhouse, divided into two cottages. Probably early C16, remodelled in circa mid to late C17. Local limestone rubble, roughcast to first floor left of front. Thatched roof with gabled ends; the lower section of the front slope is partly grouted scantle slate. Stone rubble gable end chimney stacks with tapered caps. Plan: probably a 2 or 3 room and through or cross passage plan; the lower end to the right. Originally open to the roof, the extent of which cannot be resolved because the smoke-blackened roof timbers seem to have been reused in a later roof, probably in circa late C17 when the floor was inserted, the eaves raised and the front wall rebuilt forward slightly. The house was possibly extended at the higher end in circa C18. Gable end stacks heat the higher and lower end rooms, and the hall had a front lateral stack which has been truncated. Recently the partitions on either side of the passage were removed forming one large room from the lower end room and the hall. The house has been divided into 2; the higher end room is one cottage and the hall and lower end the other cottage. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical four window range. c19 3-light casements with glazing bars. The first floor has 2 central dormers recessed at the eaves and a half dormer to the right with a slate hung gable. C20 plank door to the left of centre and a C20 glazed door to the right of centre, the latter with a glazed C20 porch. Interior: the central room, probably the hall, has light scantling chamfered cross beams, one with run-out stops, the other with long hollow slightly stepped stops. The lower room has unchamfered cross-beams. The partitions on either side of the passage have been removed. The room at the higher end of the hall which is a separate cottage was not accessible at the time of the survey in January 1986. Roof: smoke-blackened roof trusses appear to have been reused and probably re-erected when the hall was floored and the eaves raised. Some timbers are heavily encrusted with soot whilst others are only slightly smoke- blackened. The trusses of the reconstructed roof have straight principals resting on the wall plate, morticed apexes, threaded diagonal ridge-piece and threaded purlins; the collar are halved, lapped and pegged to the faces of the principals. Many of the smoke-blackened rafters and wide battens also survive.

Listing NGR: SX7868962005