Gildons Cottage

Gildons Cottage is a cottage dating from the 17th century, which was remodeled in the late 18th or early 19th century and extended by a rear wing in the 20th century. It is constructed of whitewashed rendered cob on stone rubble footings, with a thatched roof that is gabled at the right end. There is a brick stack at the right end with a rendered shaft, and the 20th-century wing is made of whitewashed rendered concrete block with a thatched roof.

Internal evidence indicates that this building was originally the lower end of a larger 17th-century house, possibly unheated, with a through passage. The exact date when the higher end was rebuilt and the house was divided is unclear, but it may have occurred in the late 18th century, which is likely when the roof trusses were added. The front elevation of Gildons Cottage was remodeled to create a symmetrical cottage ornée facade, with the original doorway on the left replaced by a window and a new doorway made in the center leading into a small lobby taken from the right-hand room. The brick stack may have been added during this remodeling, and a straight stair was introduced into the passage. A single-storey rear service room with a lean-to roof was also added.

In the late 20th century, a rear right one-room plan wing was constructed at right angles to the main range. The cottage is two storeys high with a symmetrical three-bay front featuring a thatched porch supported on posts. The eaves thatch is eyebrowed over the two first-floor windows, which are two-light arched casement windows with leaded panes, most of which are iron. There is a similar casement on the right return.

Inside, there is a partition wall to the right of the presumed passage, a pegged door frame at the rear of the passage, and a chamfered cross beam with step stops between the ground floor room on the right and the passage. The collar rafter roof trusses have collars that are halved and pegged onto the principals, with a diagonally set ridge. There is a partition wall with No 4. The current owner possesses documentation mentioning the property from 1740. The cottage has an attractive front elevation with earlier internal features.