Lower Brook

TEDBURN ST MARY SX 89 SW

3/73 Lower Brook

• II

House. Circa early C16 origins, late C16 remodelling, late C20 renovations. Whitewashed rendered cob, some late C20 stone rubble repairs to rear; thatched roof hipped at left end, gabled at right end; projecting left end stack, axial stack. The present plan is 2 rooms and a cross passage, (part of the passage partition at the lower (left) end missing) the hall stack backing on to the passage and a heated lower (left) end room. There may originally have been an inner room adjoining at the right end. Substantial C20 renovations and the re-siting of old features have obscured the evolution of the house, but it was originally an open hall from end to end of the present range, probably floored over in 2 phases. A stair has been inserted at the rear of the passage and the lower end passage screen partly dismantled. 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 3-window front with a large semi-circular bread oven to the axial stack, a front door to the former passage left of centre and a gabled dormer to the right. Fenestration of 2- and 3-light casement windows either 3 or 6 panes per light. Interior Considerable survival of internal features of interest. The hall is very complete with an open fireplace,a deeply-chamfered cross beam with step stops and exposed joists, a half-beam suggests that there may have been an internal jetty. A trimmer beam about 1 metre in front of the fireplace suggests the possibility of a hatch arrangement to direct heat into the first floor room above the hall; round timber doorway between hall and former passage. The left-hand room preserves a section of plank and muntin screen and has a plain cross beam. A smoke-blackened jointed cruck truss over the hall has a collar mortised into the principal rafters and butt purlins. The ridge extends the length of the house. An evolved house preserving some good C16 features.

Listing NGR: SX8055391794