Stonyford Cottage

Stonyford Cottage is a farmhouse, likely originating in the 16th century, with substantial rebuilding in the 17th century and alterations in the 19th century. It has been disused since around 1920. The construction incorporates local stone rubble walls with cob infill, stone rubble stacks topped with 19th-century brick, and a corrugated iron roof, formerly thatched.

The original plan was unusual, featuring a 3-room layout without a central passage. Entry was directly into the large central room, or hall, which has a projecting rear stack. A small, unheated room, likely a buttery or dairy, is to the southeast, and a parlour with a rear projecting newel stair turret and gable-end stack to the northwest. A narrower room at the northwest end is a later 18th or 19th-century addition. The interior has been largely gutted, but it originally had a 4-room plan.

The exterior has a nearly symmetrical front with 19th-century casement windows, most of which are now missing their glass. The central bay slightly projects, and the original doorway has been blocked by a window. A secondary doorway is located to the right. The roof is gable-ended. The rear elevation has similar window placement, with a bay window positioned between the stair turret and stack.

Inside, most of the structural carpentry has been removed. A crossbeam connecting the hall and inner room remains. The presence of no mortices underneath suggests there was no partition wall between these rooms. Both fireplaces were rebuilt in the 19th century and feature brick arches. An early to mid-17th century oak doorframe to the newel stair retains a chamfered surround with stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops. The roof is 20th century, replacing earlier construction. Evidence suggests the original house was an open hall house, raised in height during the 17th century and originally two stories.

Despite its derelict state, the cottage remains an attractive building. A colour photograph of an oil painting depicting the house before abandonment exists, held by the farmer of Stonyford Mill.