3, Court Street

This is a cottage, likely dating from the 15th or early 16th century, with substantial modifications in the early 17th and early 19th centuries. It is probably part of the adjacent building at No. 1 Court Street. The cottage is constructed of stuccoed granite rubble and has an asbestos slate roof with gabled ends. A large granite stack with thatch weatherings and a moulded cap stands at the right-hand gable end. The building appears to have originally formed part of a three-room house, with No. 1 containing the hall and lower end. Initially, this section had an open roof, which was floored in the early 17th century when the stack and a stair turret to the side were built. Early 19th-century partitions created a separate cottage, though the current internal partitions are likely 20th century. A lobby is created by the doorway situated in front of the stair.

The building is two storeys high and has an asymmetrical two-window facade. The first floor has a late 18th or early 19th century two- and three-light casement window with glazing bars. On the ground floor is an early 19th century canted bay with a slate roof and a three-light casement lacking glazing bars. A central 19th-century two-light casement and a late 19th-century half-glazed door are also present. At the rear, facing Pound Street, is a small square stair window to the right and a narrow window under the eaves in the centre, both featuring old timber frames. Modern metal frame casements are on the ground floor centre and first floor right. A 20th-century plank door is positioned to the right of the rear entrance.

Inside, two roof trusses remain; one is positioned centrally and the other within the party wall with No. 1. The principals are morticed at the apex and feature straight collars with dovetail lap joints, side pegs. The trusses have two tiers of purlins; the centre truss is threaded and the left-hand truss trenched. These timbers are heavily blackened. Only the feet of the centre truss are visible in the first floor room and may indicate jointed crucks. The east truss is enclosed and the plaster is clean. The ground floor room features two crossbeams with ovolo and fillet moulding and double bar stops. A half-beam is positioned against a chimney stack, concealing a blocked fireplace. The stair turret to the left of the stack contains a 20th-century staircase. The presence of medieval, smoke-blackened roof timbers makes this cottage exceptionally rare within Moretonhampstead.