Milestone Cottage

Milestone Cottage is a two-storey cottage with attic, designed in the Cotswolds Arts and Crafts style and built in 1913 by Thomas Falconer (1879-1934).

The cottage is constructed from squared and roughly-coursed locally-quarried limestone, with a plain tile roof. The windows are dressed limestone, except for two late 20th-century timber casements. The building is roughly rectangular in plan, with a rear outshut featuring a canted corner to the roadside.

The main south elevation comprises two wide bays, with the right bay projecting forward and topped by a steep gable with kneelers that encompasses the first floor and attic. The left bay contains a single four-light window to the ground floor and a three-light window to the first floor. The right bay features a recessed chamfered doorway with a wide plank door decorated with studding and iron strap hinges, alongside a three-light window at ground level. Above is a two-light window to the first floor, and a single light set high in the gable apex serves the attic. The windows throughout are chamfered stone mullioned with rectangular leaded glazing. Gable end chimneys with projecting east stack containing two diagonally-set flues punctuate the roofline.

The rear elevation features a central gable above the lean-to extension, which is fitted with two later half-dormer windows at ground and first-floor levels. The left section of the lean-to has a canted corner containing a multi-paned arched-headed window that hinges to the interior. A late 20th-century glazed porch with hardwood timber frame occupies the west end.

Internally, the ground floor displays exposed chamfered and stopped beams and joists. The plank and batten doors throughout feature decorative strap hinges, nail studding and elaborate latches crafted by Alfred Bucknell, who also designed the complex window catches. The through-hall contains an enclosed dog-leg stair and is articulated by plaster moulding at high skirting level. The living room has a lateral ceiling beam set on moulded corbels and a limestone fire surround with moulded mantel shelf and brick insert. The dining room, formerly the kitchen, retains a high stone fire surround with brick lining designed to house a range. A recess to the north would have served as the scullery. The outshut, accessed via the original external plank and batten door, contains the modern kitchen and lavatory.

The first floor features a small galleried landing with a square newel post with moulded cap, plain stick balusters and moulded handrail; the attic stair incorporates a similar balustrade arrangement. The principal first-floor room has a fireplace comparable to that in the living room but smaller in scale. The adjacent room contains fitted cupboards with iron latches. The bathroom, located in the upper lean-to section, has a replacement uPVC window. Both attic bedrooms have exposed roof timbers.

A small stone-built bothy with plank and batten door decorated with studding and tile roof stands north-west of the house to the rear of its garden.